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Every Rally Counts
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Our story

A simple idea, taken seriously

Every Rally Counts started with a question: what if a volunteer tennis session could do more than fill an hour?

The idea

Tennis rewards repetition — the same rally, run enough times, turns into real improvement. Every Rally Counts applies that same logic to community support: use volunteer tennis sessions as a way to bring people together, then direct the attention, equipment, time, and resources that follow toward youth tennis access in Newark.

The mission

Four pillars, one goal

Rally Sessions

Volunteer hitting sessions, beginner-friendly support, and match practice.

Equipment Access

Collecting racquets, balls, bags, grips, and shoes that still have plenty of use left.

Volunteer Network

Recruiting student athletes, adult players, and community members.

Transparent Impact

Reporting sessions, hours, donations, and equipment — honestly and consistently.

Portrait of Jonah Blumenthal on a public tennis court, holding a racquet.

The founder

Jonah Blumenthal

Jonah Blumenthal is a New York City student, varsity tennis captain, and longtime junior performance player. He has spent years on court chasing the sport at a competitive level — and just as many years on public courts, where a good rally is available to anyone who shows up with a racquet and a little patience.

That contrast is where Every Rally Counts started. Tennis gave Jonah access to coaching, equipment, courts, and a community that pushed him to improve. He founded Every Rally Counts to put a small piece of that access within reach of more people, starting with youth tennis in Newark.

Beyond the court, Jonah has led student teams, tutored younger students, and organized community initiatives. Tennis remains where he spends most of his time and where Every Rally Counts began.

Captain
Abraham Joshua Heschel School Varsity Tennis
Varsity player
Since 2023
Junior performance training
TCR Tennis Junior High Performance Program, since 2019
Community involvement
Supporting youth tennis programming in Greater Newark

What comes next

The long-term vision — not yet accomplished, but the direction we're headed.

  • More volunteer players joining the rotation
  • More equipment drives, run regularly rather than once
  • Partnerships with clubs and schools
  • Community rally days open to more players at once
  • A repeatable ambassador model
  • Greater transparency as the data set grows
  • Sustainable, ongoing support for tennis access in Newark

Timeline

Honest stages, not a highlight reel

  1. Verified

    Idea developed

    Every Rally Counts took shape as a simple model: volunteer tennis sessions paired with direct support for youth tennis access in Newark.

  2. Verified

    Domain secured

    everyrallycounts.org was registered.

  3. Verified

    Website launched

    The Every Rally Counts website went live, opening the first rally bookings and equipment offers.

  4. Pending

    First rally

    Pending — check back after the first session is completed.

  5. Pending

    First equipment drive

    Pending — planned once the first racquets and balls are collected.

  6. Pending

    Volunteer program

    Planned. The ambassador model will open once the first sessions are complete.

Every Rally Counts is independent student-led initiative.