While a “superhero” is loosely defined as an individual that possesses supernatural or super human powers and who is dedicated to fighting crime, protecting the public or solving problems, Dan Kester is about as close at gets to being a superhero in the Atlanta tennis community.
Kester keeps up to date and knows the names of all the players on his tennis league teams. That may not sound unusual, but Kester leads about 30 teams every year.
Even though Kester himself can’t play on 16 USTA League, 15 ALTA teams and two young adult rec teams, he has figured out how to keep them all going. He uses his organization skills that help make his business, I Play Atlanta, a success. Kester has a solid business model and asks others to implement it.
“My goal is to get more players playing,” Kester says. “So, I set up the teams and then have someone on each team make up lineup cards and handle rainouts and other details.”
But Kester’s service to Atlanta tennis goes beyond organization. “About five years ago I went to USTA Atlanta and asked how I could help,” he says. “The Atlanta Youth Tennis & Education Foundation asked for used racquets. I was able to collect 150.”
Since then, Kester has donated more than 1,000 racquets.
Kester then set up a collection box at this store for used balls; each year, he brings roughly 5,000 balls to the AYTEF. Additionally, he collects used shoes and sells the rubber, donating the money to the AYTEF.
Kester is leading the charge to promote tennis in Atlanta. The sport of tennis the Atlanta tennis community is better off for what this local tennis superhero is doing with hard work and a little creativity.
Photo by: Ron Cioffi, USTA Southern
