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Rick Pardon is involved at the grass level of community tennis.

Tennis umpire, volunteer coordinator, tournament director, league team captain, marathon runner—Rick Pardon is all these things, but what are people asking him about these days? His role in a sports drink commercial two years ago with 2003 U.S. Open champion Andy Roddick.

These days, Rick Pardon fills several tennis roles:

• Board of Directors of USA Tennis Florida
• Regional Director of five Florida districts
• Section representative to the USTA Multicultural Participation Committee
• USTA Certified Umpire
• Captain, USA League Tennis team
• Member of several other USA Tennis Florida committees

“This may seem like a lot, but when you spend your volunteer time with friends, it’s great,” Rick said.

At the NASDAQ 100-Open in Key Biscayne, FL, Rick has been responsible for recruiting and heading up the volunteers for the USTA Membership Booth and the USTA Membership Appreciation Day for the last five years. That also includes donating hours of his own time to work at the tournaments.

Rick recently spearheaded the development of a successful newsletter that reaches 10,000 tennis enthusiasts. In conjunction with the newsletter, Rick created four district charity events, at which information tables are set up to promote USA League Tennis, Membership, Junior Tennis, and how to get involved as a volunteer.

Rick’s family is a large part of his tennis involvement. He and his wife Sandi, an active USA Tennis Florida volunteer herself, have proudly passed on their love of tennis to their two sons, Matt and Jason, both active players.

Donna Fales, Executive Director of the Greater Miami Tennis Foundation, describes Rick Pardon as the “prototype” of a local USA Tennis Florida volunteer. If all Florida tennis volunteers are as dedicated as Rick, the section is very fortunate indeed.

Do you know someone who would make a good Tennis Volunteer of the Month? Email Andrew Feldman with a short description of how your volunteer helps promote and develop the game of tennis. If you have a picture, send it along.

Go to Volunteer of the Month page

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