At the young age of 12 years old, junior USTA tennis player Siddarta Reynolds from Burbank, California is proving that you’re never too young to start making an impact. 

In the wake of the recent Los Angeles fires, Sid witnessed his Great Aunt and Uncle almost lose their home.  While their home was ultimately saved, Sid was deeply impacted by the ordeal. “I realized how much people could lose—not just their home, but irreplaceable memories, photos, toys—things they can never get back.” The experience opened his eyes to the emotional toll faced by families, particularly children, who have been displaced by the fires. 

It was at this point when Sid asked his mom, “How do kids celebrate birthdays when they’ve lost everything?”  This simple question and a sincere desire to support his community led to the creation of Sid and Buddies, a project that seeks to restore some of the joy and excitement that birthdays can bring, even in the most difficult times.

Through Sid and Buddies, the hope is to bring a sense of normalcy back into the lives of children by funding birthday celebrations for kids who have lost their homes. For children, a birthday party is a simple experience of joy and celebration, something many take for granted in normal times, but that can feel impossible during times of crisis. 

Currently, Sid and Buddies is close to achieving its goal of raising $5,000. “We’ve reached about 90% of our goal,” Sid said. “Once we achieve the goal, we can start helping kids by organizing and funding birthday parties for them.” With support from local venues who have offered to host birthday parties, and generous donors, Sid hopes to make birthdays special again for children who have been through incredibly difficult times.

“The biggest challenge so far has been connecting with the people who will need our help,” he stated.  However, through strong community partnerships and outreach efforts with elected officials, Sid and Buddies is garnering the necessary support and connections. In the meantime, Sid has found the process very rewarding. “It’s been amazing to see so many people come together to help others. It just shows how united we are as a community.” 

Sid’s efforts have already gained significant recognition.  He was recognized by State Assembly member Nick Schultz and had the opportunity to speak in front of local elected officials, including Assembly member Schultz and Congresswoman Laura Friedman, an experience he describes as “incredible.” 

As Sid continues to grow both on and off the court, his passion for giving back serves as an inspiration to young athletes everywhere.  For those in the USTA SoCal community looking to support Sid and Buddies, donations can be made to their GoFundMe page below:    

To donate or learn more, visit https://gofund.me/1328a463.