Book Donation Leads to Grand Slam Opportunity of a Lifetime

One family of tennis fans recently enjoyed the Grand Slam opportunity of a lifetime. For Kate Ryan, who works as a liaison for booksellers and librarians at a book review magazine and is an advocate for children’s literacy, that chance came when she won her family the chance to play on Arthur Ashe stadium on June 21 at the home of the U.S. Open major tennis tournament through an unexpected opportunity.

How? By donating books and promoting reading in schools. Last summer, her son, Amyas, attended a tennis camp at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. At the time, the Heart of America held a book drive to benefit a school in Queens. Ryan, who regularly donates books for a number of different programs “came in with a pile of books to donate” and “didn’t even realize there was a potential prize associated with the donation.”

Every book she gave earned her another entry into the lottery. Needless to say, her name was selected.

“It was very surprising to receive this phone call from a rep in Washington telling me I was the ‘Grand Prize winner’ for a contest I hadn’t realized I had even entered,” she explained.

Ryan recounted the day when her family and friends, including her father Neil Voorsanger, her uncle Bart Voorsanger, her son Amyas, her son’s friend KJ Swanson and his father Kofi, played on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

On the “most beautiful day possible” and after preparing for the match in the men’s locker room, the same one used by Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, among other Grand Slam greats, the men took to the courts.

“As we walked out onto the court through the entrance we could imagine the screams of the 26,000 fans. It is an incredible feeling to walk though the dark hallway to emerge into the light,” said Ryan, who watched her lottery win come to on-court fruition.

Once there, the prize winners spent their time playing a combination of doubles matches and rallying. Amyas’ NTC coach Justyna Wereszka also stepped in to play throughout the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Looking back, Ryan explained the importance of the day for her and her family and friends.

“I felt that elated feeling you have at a highlight moment in your life,” she said, “like the birth of my son, [and] my wedding day. I knew this would be a moment that we all would cherish as a special moment in our family that day that my son would remember his whole life, that my father would relish, that my uncle would reflect on."

Memories of watching tennis played on Arthur Ashe during the U.S. Open and attending the tournament’s qualifying event each year made the grandeur of the experience even greater. Ryan says she especially appreciates that her “family was all together and could capture this great shared moment.”

She continued that the gift of time on Arthur Ashe did not go unappreciated and continues to be cherished.

“Every person there knew how incredible the opportunity was,” said Ryan. “I think we each brought our own excitement to the court. The energy was palpable and just happy. We could all feel it and it is lasting”

For her son, 12-year-old Amyas, and his 13-year-old friend CJ, both avid players, Ryan said the day proved to be particularly meaningful.

“We were able to give them a gift of family and love, and empowerment they will remember all of their lives,” she said.