At the end of May, Pura Vida Tennis welcomed six children from CEPIA Costa Rica for a tennis session in Las Catalinas, marking another step in a growing effort to use sport as a bridge between Town and the surrounding community.
CEPIA Costa Rica is a nonprofit organization that works with children, teenagers, and families in nearby communities through education, culture, sports, and social development programs. Through this partnership, Pura Vida Tennis has been hosting recurring sessions for children who might not otherwise have access to tennis, giving them the chance to step onto the court, learn something new, and spend time in an environment built around movement, confidence, teamwork, and joy.
Las Catalinas Doorway also supports the initiative by donating the court space for these sessions, helping make the experience possible and allowing the program to continue reaching children from the surrounding community.
What makes the initiative especially meaningful is the model behind it. A portion of the revenue from Pura Vida Tennis programming goes into a community fund that helps support outreach efforts like these, making it possible for the program to extend beyond regular classes and create opportunities for others in the region.
For the children who joined, the session was not only about learning how to hold a racket or hit a ball. It was also about encouragement, connection, and the simple but powerful experience of being invited into a new space where sport becomes a way to build confidence and belonging.
Beginning this June, the partnership with CEPIA will expand from one session per month to two. The next visits are scheduled for Saturday, June 6 and Saturday, June 20, both from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
In a place where outdoor life and movement are already part of the daily experience, initiatives like this show how sport can become something bigger than recreation. It can become a way to share access, create connection, and recognize the positive impact that can grow when local programs choose to reach outward.