From Courts to Communities: How Philpott Children’s Tennis Is Empowering Toronto Youth Through Sport

What happens when you combine tennis, mentorship, and a deep commitment to community? You get Philpott Children’s Tennis—a program that’s been transforming the lives of young people in Toronto’s priority neighbourhoods for over 30 years. Offering free, year-round tennis programming rooted in values, leadership, and connection, Philpott goes far beyond sport to foster personal growth, confidence, and long-lasting opportunity for kids and teens. With over 4,000 registered participants each summer at 16 sites across the city of Toronto, children and youth have the chance to play, learn, and grow through tennis—while also discovering pathways to volunteer, earn community service hours, and even become paid certified coaches. Read on for our interview with Executive Director Richard Crowell to learn how you can get involved—whether by referring a deserving student, joining a fundraising initiative, or helping more kids access the joy of tennis.

At Teachers on Call, we’re always on the lookout for community initiatives that share our belief in the power of education—both inside and outside the classroom. That’s why we were excited to connect with Richard Crowell, Executive Director of Philpott Children’s Tennis. Based in Toronto, Philpott is a shining example of how sport can break down barriers and bring communities together—engaging students from all socio-economic backgrounds and even involving youth in Tennis-a-Thons to help raise funds so their peers can access the same opportunities. One of several important third-party fundraisers, the Tennis-a-Thon is a beloved spring tradition where over 80 kids from the Toronto Cricket Club (141 Wilson Ave, Toronto, ON M5M 3A3) play tennis for eight consecutive hours—from 4 p.m. to midnight—to PLAY IT FORWARD in support of Philpott Children’s Tennis. In this conversation, Richard shares how Philpott is building more than just tennis skills—it’s nurturing future leaders and opening doors that reach far beyond the court.

Building Community Through Sport: A Q&A with Richard Crowell, Executive Director of Philpott Children’s Tennis

Philpott Children’s Tennis has been serving up more than just tennis lessons for over 30 years—it’s been transforming lives. We sat down with Executive Director of Philpott Children’s Tennis, Richard Crowell, to learn how this long-standing program is fostering personal growth, community connection, and opportunity for youth in Toronto’s priority neighbourhoods through the power of sport.

Can you share the story behind Philpott Children’s Tennis? Who was the founder, and what inspired the creation of this program? 

Philpott Children’s Tennis is named in memory of Doug Philpott, an avid tennis player and longtime member of the Toronto Lawn Tennis Club (44 Price St, Toronto, ON M4W 1Z4). He had a real love for the game and supported many players during his time. When he passed away, a group of people who knew him and believed in what he stood for came together to carry on his legacy. That’s how Philpott Children’s Tennis was born.

Philpott Children’s Tennis provides free tennis lessons and programs to deserving kids in Toronto each year. What impact have you seen on the children and communities you serve? 

I believe we have a crisis of connectivity in our world these days. Philpott is connecting people in their community. We emphasize friendships, giving back to your community, and supporting each other through volunteering. I’m really happy when I see parents and families connecting. This is crucial for newcomers to Canada—it’s a place to come and meet people in your community. Through our Leadership Program, we see youth grow into young adults. Many of them get their first jobs with us, and we teach them interview skills, communication, and personal finance to help them start down their career paths.

How many students participate in Philpott programs each year, and how many locations do you operate in? Can you tell us more about the types of programs offered throughout the year? 

We have over 4,000 registered participants each summer at 16 sites across the city of Toronto. These sites are in areas that are designated as priority neighbourhoods by the City of Toronto. Over the years, we’ve grown the program to run 12 months a year. We offer Learn to Play programs, friendly competition, and our Leadership Program for youth. When our new facility opens in the heart of the Jane/Finch community in 2025, we’ll also be running afterschool programs that include healthy eating and a homework club.

Beyond tennis skills, what life lessons do children gain from participating in Philpott programs? 

At the heart of every Philpott program is the “Value of the Day.” We ask participants to reflect on five core values that Philpott connects to both tennis and life—things like respect, cooperation, and accountability. After every session, kids are encouraged to think about how they showed the Value of the Day on the court and in their everyday lives. Alongside the intentional life skills we build into our programming, this helps tie athletic development to emotional and behavioural growth. We want to make sure participants leave with skills they can carry into their careers and lives.

We’re confident in the impact our programs have. In our most recent evaluation, 89% of parents said their child’s confidence improved through the program. They also reported gains in physical fitness (79%), sense of community (37%), and leadership skills and behaviour (35% for both).

Your organization offers more than just tennis—tell us about the Little Readers Program and how it supports early literacy alongside physical activity. 

The Little Readers Program pairs young children in the community with Coach Readers—youth who have gone through our Leadership Program. It started during the pandemic when access to afterschool support and tutoring was limited. The program was so successful that we kept it going, and now it’s a big part of what we do. We think it’s really cool for young kids to see their coaches showing a love for reading.

Philpott relies on generous support from key partners to make these programs possible. Can you highlight some of the organizations that help bring tennis to children in priority neighbourhoods? 

We’ve been blessed with the support of the tennis community for over 30 years now. Many of the indoor and summer clubs support us through annual fundraisers, including our biggest event of the year—the Ladies Invitational. This year, it was hosted at the Boulevard Club (1491 Lake Shore Blvd W, Toronto, ON M6K 3C2), and in 2026 it will be held at the Donalda Club (12 Bushbury Dr, North York, ON M3A 2Z7).

We also receive ongoing support from a number of generous foundations and clubs, including Jumpstart Foundation, the Toronto-Eglinton Rotary Club, the Charles Johnson Family Foundation, the Kerr Foundation, the Doncaster Foundation, The Hilary and Galen Weston Foundation, and the Merchant of Tennis (1621 Bayview Ave, East York, ON M4G 3B5).

For teachers or administrators who know of students who would benefit from Philpott Children’s Tennis, what is the referral process? How can they help connect children to your programs? 

The biggest entry point into our programs is through the City of Toronto’s Fun Guide. All of our summer registration goes through their website. Please do refer students—we have many spots to fill in the summer, especially in our older age groups. It’s a great way for children between the ages of 14 and 16 to earn volunteer hours and potentially feed into our Leadership Program.

Fundraisers play an important role in ensuring kids continue to have access to free tennis lessons. Can you tell us about the Tennis-a-Thon and other key fundraising initiatives that help support Philpott’s programs? 

As it is for most charities, sustainable funding is an ongoing challenge—not just to maintain our current programs, but to help us grow. Right now, we’re fundraising for our new year-round community tennis facility, set to open in 2025. You can read more about this exciting project here.

Events like the Cricket Club’s Tennis-a-Thon really help us sustain our operations. We also had a wonderful initiative at the Boulevard Club, where a small portion of every membership is donated to Philpott. All of our programs are free, so we don’t collect any user fees—we rely heavily on the generosity of our supporters.

Have any notable alumni from Philpott Children’s Tennis gone on to achieve success in tennis or other fields? Can you share a story that stands out?

Yes, we’ve had some incredible alumni who’ve gone on to do great things—both in tennis and beyond.

One example is Thuginthan Thurai. He began his journey as a Philpott participant back in 2011 at our Jane and Finch location. Today, he’s a certified coach working alongside the very coach who inspired him as a child. He now co-leads our Philpott Alumni Program, which recently brought together three generations of participants who followed in the footsteps of their coaches. Through Philpott’s supportive network, Thuginthan also secured an internship at Ernst & Young as part of his university business program—showing how our programs can open up career pathways well beyond sport.

Another great story is Kim Pallarca. She first got involved with Philpott learning tennis through our Summer Program in 2007. Her love of tennis grew from there moving from participant to coach, and then into management. That inspired her to expand her experiences working with Tennis Nova Scotia, Tennis Canada, Canadian Tire Jumpstart, Philpott Children’s Tennis and now Inclusion in Canadian Sports Network (ICSN). Her career path really reflects the kind of transformational growth and opportunity that Philpott programs make possible. Several of the kids she coached early on have followed in her footsteps and graduated from our Leadership Program too.

For kids and families thinking about joining the program, or for those looking to give back, what’s your message of encouragement and inspiration? 

Philpott has a place for everyone to play. It’s fun, it’s interactive, and a great way to stay active. For kids who find a passion for tennis, there’s also a pathway—they can go on to do our Leadership Program and even become a paid, certified coach. It’s a full circle experience, and we love seeing that growth.

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As we reflect on the stories and impact Richard shared, one message is clear: when kids are given the tools, mentorship, and encouragement to thrive, their potential is limitless. Whether through tennis, literacy, or leadership, Philpott Children’s Tennis is changing lives and strengthening communities. We encourage educators, families, and supporters to help spread the word, refer deserving students, and explore meaningful ways to get involved—because every child deserves the opportunity to play, grow, and succeed.