Serving holiday hope: Tennis in Cuenca continues holiday giving tradition

Desmion Dizney of Cuenca Foundation (Ken Lucero, left, is also donating FAAN coloring books…)

By John Olson

Expats come to Cuenca hoping to continue their favorite activities and interests from their previous lives in other countries, but sometimes these activities have a way of drawing them into their new community and finding ways to contribute to their neighbors. That was the case with the Tennis in Cuenca organization, an inclusive tennis group of expats and Ecuadorians that plays tennis twice weekly at the Quatro Rios courts outside the Coliseo Jefferson Perez on Av. 12 de Abril.

Ken with Patricia of Hogar de Esperanza.

Several years ago, while dining at Sabatino’s Garden Restaurant after some of their weekly tennis sessions, the group learned of the Kids in the Cajas Christmas Project started by the restaurant’s owner, Mauricio Bernal. The project provides holiday gifts and support to children in some of the rural communities surrounding Cuenca, and the tennis players wanted to help Bernal with his efforts. It occurred to them that they could donate the surplus in their annual budget to Bernal to buy more toys to give to the children.

Ken with Mauricio Bernal of Sabatino’s Kids’ Christmas in the Cajas.

Seeing the joy these gifts brought, the Tennis in Cuenca group decided to make charitable giving not just a “nice-to-do” byproduct of their operations, but a part of their group’s mission. They increased the court fees beyond what was needed to pay Quatro Rios for the court time, to budget for more significant donations to charities. They doubled the amount of money available for donations and voted to expand their giving to three additional organizations: The Cuenca Foundation, which provides food, hygiene products, educational assistance, and disaster relief to vulnerable individuals and families in Cuenca; Mujeres con Exito, an enterprise empowering women to break the cycle of violence and build independent lives; and Hogar Esperanza, which is dedicated to supporting people in poverty or vulnerable situations due to illness.

Ken with a representative from Mujeres con Exito.

In January, Tennis in Cuenca will be exploring additional giving options for 2026 and looks forward to continuing their support of the organizations in Cuenca who are making a difference in the lives of those in the community.

Tennis in Cuenca plays each week on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9-11 am each week at the Coliseo, Av. 12 de Abril and Unidad Nacional. Those interested in playing can simply stop by, or for further information contact Ken Lucero on WhatsApp: +598 989819037, email at lucerok@yahoo.com, or FB Messenger at Tennis in Cuenca.