DAMARISCOTTA

There have been many organizations around the world that have combined the participation in a sport and educational opportunities to help those struggling in poverty-stricken countries to thrive and find the path to success.

Cinda Holbach, former professional tennis player and 1993 NCAA Division 1 finalist, has been teaching kids the art of the sport for several years and has also been involved with “Tennis Without Borders,” an organization built around the goal of improving children’s lives from across the world through the sport of tennis.

The organization was formed in 2009 and has since donated thousands of pieces of tennis equipment to third-world countries such as Cameroon, Ghana, Uganda, Kenya and Columbia. “Tennis Without Borders” has also provided the opportunity to send tennis coaches to Africa to train other coaches and children in the sport.

“We give life opportunities to kids around the world both on and off the court,” Holbach said. “We provide them with tennis equipment as well as other educational opportunities, with the hope of giving kids the ability to play and improve their lives.”

Holbach is now in the process of becoming the next member of the organization to make the trip to Cameroon. The former top- 100 world tennis player will be hosting a fundraising event at the Central Lincoln County YMCA in Damariscotta on Sunday with the help of the Bowdoin College women’s tennis team.

“I had people help me when I was a professional tennis player,” she said. “I had coaches give me great opportunities that I wasn’t able to afford and it was a big part of my development. This event is to help bring awareness to what I’m doing, teaching the kids there how to give back.”

Holbach stated that even though the event is a fundraiser, her main goal is to continue to build the notoriety of the organization and give participants the opportunity to follow both a healthy and educational lifestyle.

“I just feel lucky to be a part of it,” she said.

Anyone that wants to donate to the “Tennis Without Borders” organization can participate in Sunday’s event, beginning at 12:30 p.m., by visiting www.oyebogtennisacademy.org or by emailing Holbach directly at [email protected].