{"id":23167,"date":"2023-02-06T09:20:52","date_gmt":"2023-02-06T14:20:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/earlham.edu\/?p=23167&preview=true&preview_id=23167"},"modified":"2023-02-06T13:09:06","modified_gmt":"2023-02-06T18:09:06","slug":"restaurant-group-makes-gift-in-support-of-recreational-tennis-programs-at-earlham-college","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/earlham.edu\/news-events\/restaurant-group-makes-gift-in-support-of-recreational-tennis-programs-at-earlham-college\/","title":{"rendered":"Restaurant group makes gift in support of recreational tennis programs at Earlham College"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Jesus Melendez, pictured left, is the owner of the El Rodeo and El Bronco restaurant group. He is pictured with his daughter, Jessica, and his son, Omarr.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
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The popular El Bronco and El Rodeo restaurant group in Richmond has made a three-year gift commitment in support of Earlham College\u2019s recreational tennis programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The gift will support renovations to the College\u2019s recreational tennis courts and establish an official home for the Amigos youth tennis program. Amigos is the preeminent non-profit organization in support of Richmond\u2019s Latino community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEarlham and Amigos have been working together for decades to support Richmond\u2019s Latino community,\u201d Earlham President Anne Houtman said. \u201cThis wonderful gift will strengthen that partnership and establish a free place for local youth to learn, grow and play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Earlham community also benefits,\u201d she said. \u201cMany of our community members are avid tennis players and enjoy giving back to the community as volunteer coaches and mentors.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Amigos tennis program was established in 2014 with a grant by the United States Tennis Association and is free for children 5-16 years old inWayne County. The program started with a summer camp that served about 25 children and now offers year-round programming for beginning and advanced players. More than 100 children participate in the program annually and people of all ages contribute to its success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe El Bronco and El Rodeo family of restaurants is delighted to contribute to the growth of the Amigos tennis program,\u201d said Jesus Melendez, the owner and founder of the El Bronco and El Rodeo restaurant group. \u201cWe\u2019re especially pleased to support wellness programs at Earlham College. The campus community has supported our business from the very beginning and helped us become a popular food and dining destination that has now expanded to three locations in Richmond.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Amigos tennis program began in 2014 and serves more than 100 children.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
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Gene Hambrick, Earlham\u2019s senior executive director of the Center for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Creativity, helped jumpstart the Amigos tennis program. He modeled it after programs he facilitated for underserved communities in Atlanta and Pittsburgh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis partnership between Earlham, Amigos and the El Bronco and El Rodeo restaurant group is a win-win-win,\u201d Hambrick said. \u201cUnlike other sports, tennis is truly a life-long endeavor that brings families and communities together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m 71 years old and still playing,\u201d he said. \u201cIt keeps me in shape. I\u2019m delighted to see this taking off in our community and look forward to watching it continue to prosper.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hambrick and Howard Lamson, a senior adviser for Amigos, were recently recognized by the USTA with the Brad Holmes Award. The award is given to a volunteer within the Central Indiana Tennis District who continually strives to promote youth tennis primarily at the local level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe can\u2019t thank Gene and the USTA enough for helping us launch this special initiative in our community,\u201d Lamson said. \u201cThe USTA has been instrumental in helping us train coaches and organizing special events for youth that promote learning, cooperation and respect across cultures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe community support from Earlham and now El Bronco and El Rodeo has been incredible,\u201d he said. \u201cThe Amigos tennis players love playing in the beautiful facilities at Earlham and this new commitment helps us ensure this opportunity will be available to them for the near future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The El Bronco and El Rodeo restaurant group is the second donor in two years to pledge a leadership gift in support of Earlham\u2019s tennis programs. A gift from Earlham graduate Randy Sadler and his wife, Melissa, sparked a return of men\u2019s and women\u2019s NCAA Division III tennis on campus during the 2022-23 academic year. The Sadler gift also supports tennis as a recreational sport on campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Media contact<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Brian Zimmerman<\/strong>
Director of media relations
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Email: zimmebr@earlham.edu
Phone: 765.983.1256<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n