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Wake County Story

Story Highlights
  • Aneesh Kodali is hosting a free camp for children.
  • Kids get free lessons, racquets, balls and t-shirts.




Teen Hosting Free Tennis Camp

Credit: AP Online

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CARY, N.C. -

Seeing dozens of kids take part in a summer tennis camp might not seem that out of the ordinary, but if that camp is free, and it's all being put on by a high schooler, well, that's a little different.

The Kids for Kids camp in Cary is designed to introduce disadvantaged children to the game.

For the second year in a row now, Aneesh Kodali is helping foster a new generation of tennis players.

"I just like it," camper Luke Fortner said. "Playing tennis."

"I wanted to combine my desire to do volunteer work with my passion for tennis," Kodali explained.

The Cary Academy senior arranged for his Kodali Family Private Foundation to put up the money to provide kids with free lessons, brand new racquets, balls and T-shirts.

"Cary Tennis Park's providing these courts for free," Kodali said.

"With the economy the way it is, this is absolutely a great opportunity," Rusty Russell, the father of one camper, said. "And it's just excellent that this family has done this."

Russell's son, Banks, had never played until this week and is already showing improvement.

"The first day he wouldn't even get out there," Russell said. "And then after watching it, yesterday and today he's freely gone out there on his own. It's awesome to see these kids."

The camp started out with fewer than 30 participants last year, but served up 150 this year.

With his brother, Anudeep, helping out, Aneesh says next year the expectations are even higher.

"It's probably going to be bigger than this. A lot bigger," Kodali said. "So I'm kind of nervous but excited."

Next year won't even be match point; Kodali says he hopes to keep the camp going, even after he leaves for college.

The Kodali family actively recruited kids for the camp by putting up flyers at places like the Library and the YMCA.

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Keep up with the stories Chris Cowperthwaite is working on every day: http://twitter.com/CCowperthwaite.

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