Lianne Epstein’s love of tennis is rivaled only by her passion for helping the needy.

“I love being on a tennis court, but nothing can beat the feeling that you get when you lend a helping hand to people who really need it,” said the Coral Springs resident.

It was a trip to Camp Boggy Creek in Eustis with her dad that kindled her desire to help others, Epstein said. “The camp looks after children with chronic or life-threatening diseases. Going there with Dad really opened my eyes. I’m glad I went with him.”

The camp, which opened in 1996, is run completely by donations from corporations, individuals and foundations. “The place has almost everything for children but I noticed that it did not have a tennis court,” said Epstein, who won the Silver Knight award this year in the athletic category. “I began thinking of what I needed to do to make that happen.”

After she came back to Coral Springs, Epstein started working toward her goal. “As I love tennis, organizing tennis tournaments to raise money seemed like the right thing to do,” she said. “I went to businesses in the community and sought their help. Tennis companies Prince and Tail donated racquets and clothing that were auctioned off to raise money.”

After the success of the first tournament, Epstein organized two more. “People were incredibly generous. With all the support we got, we were able to raise $13,500 for the camp. Some day, the tennis courts will be built.”

Read the complete article in the July 17 issue of the Coral Springs Forum.