“Did You Know” that ICYO began in October 1993 with 25 hand-picked students at the Old Washburn School in the West End by school counselor, Douglas Shear? These students were taught tennis at Camargo & Western Hills Racquet Club after school. Volunteers drove the kids to the clubs & then back to their homes.
“Did You Know” that HEAD Racquet Sports became ICYO’s tennis sponsor a few years into the program. HEAD provided all our racquets, T-shirts, hats, tennis & travel bags.
“Did You Know” that ICYO’s first two transportation buses were donated by Ryder Transportation?
“Did You Know” that Nick. Bolleterri provided sponsorship’s for eight of our tennis players in the mid 1990’s to train at his famous Bolleterri Tennis Academy in Bradenton, Florida for one week? Not pictured is Michael Manuel.
Bottom row L to R…Mark Tolliver, Mario Scott
Top row L to R….Larry (Means) Cameron, Jacqueline Walsh, Edward White, Nick Bolleterri, Anita McCollum, Corlinda Reeves.
“Did You Know” that ICYO tennis players began playing Novice Tennis Tournaments in the Cincinnati area, then moved on to USTA city tournaments and then out of state tournaments.
As part of Inner City Youth Opportunities’ 25th Anniversary celebrations we will be highlighting some of our achievements and fun facts in a “Did You Know” as part of our social media. We hope you get to know more about the rich history of ICYO through these fun facts.
“Did You Know” that ICYO used to be part of Cintas Corporation Team Spirit Program and received tickets, t-shirts and food coupons to a Xavier University basketball game once a year?
“Did You Know” that ICYO teens then and now may volunteer as tennis helpers at ICYO’S Summer Tennis Camp. Michael Manuel, shown below, was one of our first volunteers.
“Did You Know” that ICYO provided a Cub Scout Den with the support of the Boy Scouts of America? Jeanne Bell was their Den leader along with ICYO Van drivers Lillie Evans and Lillian Hughes as assistants.
“Did You Know” that ICYO President & Founder, Jeanne Bell was ranked # 19 (singles) in the National Seniors Singles Womens 50’s? Pictured here with Ken Munson, (creator of the Clydesdale Tournament benifittingICYO) Jeanne Bell and her doubles partner, Marty Riessen. Jeanne and Marty were runners up in their division.
Marty Riessen (born December 4, 1941) played amateur and professional tennis in the 1960s and 1970s. He was ranked as high as No. 11 in the world in singles on the ATP …
Turned pro: 1968 (amateur tour from 1958)
“Did You Know” that ICYO years ago had a most generous sponsor who paid for our booth every summer during the ATP. The booth was decorated with photos of the ICYO tennis kids many of whom were sponsored to spend an entire day enjoying the tennis matches and getting ATP player autographs. The booth was manned by ICYO board members, ICYO staff and ICYO volunteers. We were delighted when players like Fred Stolle and Malavi Washington stopped by to interact with the icyo kids!
“Did you know” that James Blake was a spokesperson for Inner City Youth Opportunities along with Time Warner Cable?
James seen here at the ATP ICYO Tournament Booth. HEAD Racquet Sports used to be our equipment sponsor.
As part of Inner City Youth Opportunities’ 25th Anniversary celebrations we will be highlighting some of our achievements and fun facts in a “Did You Know” as part of our social media. We hope you get to know more about the rich history of ICYO through these fun facts.
“Did you know” that Kathy Wilson was the first dog handler to join ICYO as a partner in 2006. Kathy and her dogs were members of R.E.A.D. (Reading Education Assistance Dogs) and came once a week to the ICYO Tutoring Program. Kathy was a school teacher and sports coach in the New Richmond, OH school system.
As part of Inner City Youth Opportunities’ 25th Anniversary celebrations we will be highlighting some of our achievements and fun facts in a “Did You Know” as part of our social media. We hope you get to know more about the rich history of ICYO through these fun facts.
“Did you know” that ICYO used to take their participants to the Dude Ranch which was located north of Cincinnati near Camp Kern? The kids would ride horses on the trails with a guide, learn about the Longhorn cattle at the ranch, roast marshmallows at the campfire, play horseshoes, have a picnic lunch and many other activities that the Dude Ranch had to offer. The ranch is no longer in business. ICYO misses this great opportunity for kids!!
As part of Inner City Youth Opportunities’ 25th Anniversary celebrations we will be highlighting some of our achievements and fun facts in a “Did You Know” as part of our social media. We hope you get to know more about the rich history of ICYO through these fun facts.
“Did you know” that one of ICYO’s
first fundraisers was December 12, 1996 “An Evening of Mystery, Myths and Legends” preview party at Hotel Mexico restaurant at Sycamore Plaza in Kenwood. Celebrity guests were Pat Berry, Dennis Janson and Johnny Bench. Ten ICYO children, many friends, guests and ICYO board members attended this event along with founders Jeanne and Phil Bell.
As part of Inner City Youth Opportunities’ 25th Anniversary celebrations we will be highlighting some of our achievements and fun facts in a “Did You Know” as part of our social media. We hope you get to know more about the rich history of ICYO through these fun facts.
“Did you know” that in the summer of 1996, Harper’s Point Racquet Club hosted the Israeli Tennis Exhibition with some of ICYO’s top tennis players? Lunch followed at Montgomery Inn in Montgomery, Ohio.
ICYO TENNIS TEAM: Mario Scott, Bonnie Williams, Michael Manuel, Jackie Walsh.
ISRAELI TENNIS CENTERS TEAM: Sivan, Dvora, Anna, Gilat
As part of Inner City Youth Opportunities’ 25th Anniversary celebrations we will be highlighting some of our achievements and fun facts in a “Did You Know” as part of our social media. We hope you get to know more about the rich history of ICYO through these fun facts.
“Did you know” that ICYO participants began playing local Novice Tennis Tournaments early on and by 1997 some were winnining trophies and plaques?
These pictures were taken at Colonial Racquet Club.
As part of Inner City Youth Opportunities’ 25th Anniversary celebrations we will be highlighting some of our achievements and fun facts in a “Did You Know” as part of our social media. We hope you get to know more about the rich history of ICYO through these fun facts.
“Did You Know” that for twenty-two years the employees of the Cincinnati legal firm of Strauss Troy have sponsored ICYO participants to a one week overnight experience at the YMCA CAMP ERNST in Burlington, Ky.? Camp Ernst also helps the firm with partial sponsorships. In addition, Strauss Troy provides sleeping bags, backpacks filled with necessary toiletries, beach towels, camp t-shirts and other items that may be needed. Their volunteers greet our campers and help with check in. On pick up Saturday the firm volunteers treat the campers to a McDonalds breakfast before going home. Once again this summer, 8 ICYO kids will be going to Camp Ernst June 17 – 23, 2018.
As part of Inner City Youth Opportunities’ 25th Anniversary celebrations we will be highlighting some of our achievements and fun facts in a “Did You Know” as part of our social media. We hope you get to know more about the rich history of ICYO through these fun facts.
“Did You Know” that when Kicks for Kids was a viable organization, ICYO was a community partner and one of our favorite events was a visit to Potter’s Ranch in Union Kentucky?
As part of Inner City Youth Opportunities’ 25th Anniversary celebrations we will be highlighting some of our achievements and fun facts in a “Did You Know” as part of our social media. We hope you get to know more about the rich history of ICYO through these fun facts.
“Did You Know” that Jeanne Bell, Co- Founder along with her husband Philip Bell, was a nationally ranked (#19 nationally in the Women’s 50’s) singles player in the Senior Women’s National Tennis Tournaments? Jeanne got her inspiration for starting ICYO from the Israeli Tennis Centers that combined tennis and education. Her passion for both tennis and education inspired her to first bring tennis to Cincinnati’s inner city children. Tennis was the groundwork for the organization and the many life lessons tennis provided that she passed on to her ICYO KIDS, both then and continues today.
As part of Inner City Youth Opportunities’ 25th Anniversary celebrations we will be highlighting some of our achievements and fun facts in a “Did You Know” as part of our social media. We hope you get to know more about the rich history of ICYO through these fun facts.
“Did You Know” that Jeanne Bell had a partnership for ICYO with Fellowship of Christian Athletes in the late 1990’s & 2000. FCA is an interdenominational Christian organization that gave young people the opportunity to join others for a week of competition, excitement and life changing fun at FCA tennis camp in Marshall, Indiana for a week. ICYO also had weekly Huddle meetings to study scripture and apply it to everyday life.
As part of Inner City Youth Opportunities’ 25th Anniversary celebrations we will be highlighting some of our achievements and fun facts in a “Did You Know” as part of our social media. We hope you get to know more about the rich history of ICYO through these fun facts.
“Did You Know” that ICYO has a partnership with the Cincinnati Nature Center Earthkids Program which began about 5 years ago? CNC sponsors a one week day camp for up to thirty ICYO children every summer at LongBranch Farm in Goshen, OH. CNC also sponsors the ICYO admission fees for our year round field trips to the Cincinnati Nature Center Rowe Woods.
Jeanne Bell, President & Founder of ICYO loves the outdoors and has been a member of CNC since the 1970’s. She continues to schedule year round field trips to the nature center with the ICYO kids so they can experience and learn about “nature”, something that otherwise would not be available to them!
ICYO is so appreciative of the CNC sponsorship that offers an experience that the ICYO kids can learn, feel, hear, touch and smell “nature”.
As part of Inner City Youth Opportunities’ 25th Anniversary celebrations we will be highlighting some of our achievements and fun facts in a “Did You Know” as part of our social media. We hope you get to know more about the rich history of ICYO through these fun facts.
“Did You Know” that ICYO has had a community partnership with Camp Joy since 2012? ICYO is grateful to the Montgomery Inn Boathouse and Friends of ICYO and Camp Joy for making this possible every summer.
“Did You Know” that ICYO has had a community partnership begun by Jane Pomeroy Lance, now retired second grade teacher from Vermont Elementary School in Wyoming, OH, about 5 years ago. Every year around Christmas time two second grade teachers donate new Scholastic books along with board games, dice, and game pieces to accompany each book. These games are created by the second grade students who write personal notes to our ICYO kids.
Heartfelt thanks to Vermont second grade teachers Jane Pomeroy Lance, Kim Stewart and Jan Holiday!!
#ICYOKidsLoveBooksandGames
Seven ICYO tennis players with Nick Bolletieri at the IGM Academy Tennis Camp in Bradenton, Florida…about 1997.
As part of Inner City Youth Opportunities’ 25th Anniversary celebrations we will be highlighting some of our achievements and fun facts in a ” Did you know that Nick Bolletieri’s IGM Academy sponsored seven of our tennis players in Bradenton, Florida….about 1997?
