Palm Beach Gardens’ Franks Named USTA Florida Tennis Volunteers of the Month

Amy and Jimmy Frank

Family is the number one priority to Amy and Jimmy Frank. The Franks spent many nights at the Palm Beach Gardens Tennis Center watching their daughter Amanda and son Joey practice on the courts in preparation for their USTA tournaments with their daughter Jamie, who was always full of enthusiasm to support her siblings.

Jamie, who was born with brain damage due to bacterial meningitis, was unable to walk or speak. She passed away in April of 2016 at the age of 18. In her memory, the Franks founded Jamie’s Tennis Angels. Well aware of the difficulties parents of special needs children experience when it comes to finding entertaining activities on the weekends, the mission of Jamie’s Tennis Angels is to provide free, monthly adaptive tennis programming to children and adults with special, physical and cognitive needs and abilities.

“The Franks saw a need to involve the adaptive community of Northern Palm Beach County in tennis. They proposed a program specially intended for this group and established a partnership with the Palm Beach Gardens Tennis Center,” said William McDermott, the Recreation Supervisor for Tennis Programs at the center. “This was done with an equipment grant from USTA Florida Section Foundation, but with the Franks bearing all further costs including the hiring of specially trained teaching pros. Additionally, the family has contributed a very large amount of their time.”

The Frank family, who have been involved with tennis for many years, have taken a hands-on approach to the details of Jamie’s Tennis Angels programs. That includes the set-up, check-in, clean-up, and additional costs. They’ve actively recruited a large number of volunteers from the Palm Beach Gardens Tennis Center and beyond to assist with the programs.

“This program drew thankful praise from many parents who appreciated the existence of an enjoyable, socializing weekend experience for their children, and also from volunteers, who found profound joy and satisfaction in their services,” added McDermott.

USTA Florida thanks Amy and Jimmy Frank for their dedication to expanding tennis programming for children and adults with special, physical and cognitive needs and abilities in Palm Beach County.

ABOUT AMY & JIMMY

Birthplace: New York City
Family Members: Son Joey, Daughter Amanda
Favorite Movie: Amy – Shawshank Redemption, Jimmy – The Graduate
Favorite Food: Amy – French Fries, Jimmy – Sushi
Favorite Travel Spot: Cruising the rivers in Europe
Favorite Shot: Jimmy’s slice backhand

Our earliest tennis memory was… “Jimmy playing tennis on the public courts with his father in Englewood, NJ at age 7.”

If we could play tennis with three people, they would be… “Venus Williams, Roger Federer, John McEnroe.”

When we’re not playing tennis we are… “Amy is a stay-at-home mom; Jimmy is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley.”

Our best tennis memory is… “Our son, Joey, as captain of his college team, winning matches his senior year. Our daughter Amanda’s success on the USTA National level.”

We like to volunteer in tennis because… “We love helping the special needs community through the wonderful sport of tennis.”

Interested in volunteering in tennis? Visit www.USTAFlorida.com/Volunteers to learn more about available opportunities.