Boynton Beach’s Larry Liebman Named Florida Tennis Volunteer of the Month

Larry Liebman of Boynton Beach has brought his tennis volunteer-ism from New York to Florida, and is lighting-up the Valencia Lakes community and the surrounding area with tennis opportunities for local special-needs children.

“I’ve owed a tennis club for 15 years in New York City and saw the benefit for kids, adults and seniors in health and socialization,” he says of why he likes to volunteer in tennis.

A volunteer for the “mood-fueled” Love Serving Autism program at Park Vista Community High School, he also teaches beginner clinics at Valencia Lakes, has worked to join the tennis and pickleball communities at Valencia Lakes, and has volunteered as a coach at the Kid’s Day at the Miami Open professional tournament.

He is a member of the first-year Valencia Lakes Racquet Grandparents 4 Kids program, which makes a local impact assisting children on the autism spectrum.

Liebman and his fellow seniors provide instruction to the ESE students on the school’s tennis courts once per week, and last month wrapped-up the school year with a final session and pizza party with the students.

The volunteers work with students on hand-eye coordination, mobility and endurance, and teaching different fundamentals like how to bounce, pick up and hit the ball. The volunteers received guidance this past October from the Love Serving Autism program and founder Lisa Pugliese. USTA Florida provided a grant for the program to provide tennis equipment.

USTA Florida thanks Larry Liebman for volunteering his time for children in the Palm Beach area as the June 2019 Florida Volunteer of the Month.

ABOUT LARRY

Birthplace: Bronx, NY
Family: “Wife, two sons, two daughter in-laws and four grandchildren”
Favorite Food: “Italian, Chinese, Russian, Thai and seafood”
Favorite Travel: “China, Russia, Europe, domestic U.S.”
Favorite Shot: Serve

My earliest tennis memory was…Playing tennis in college.

If I could play tennis with three people, they would be…Jimmy Connors, Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe.

When I am not playing tennis I am…playing pickleball and playing with my grandchildren.

My best tennis memory is…working as a stringer at the US Open the year it opened at the National Tennis Center.