For 12-year-old Michael Monzón, stepping onto the baseball field at Petco Park during a live San Diego Padres game was almost too much to take in. The lights were as bright as daylight, and the stadium was packed. The roar of the crowd surrounded and stunned him. It was his first time attending a baseball game in person, and he was not just in the stands. He was standing on the field.

“I’m so happy that I’m done with my homework because now I can stay here all night. I never want to leave,” Michael said.

The unforgettable evening came about through the work of Teens Rise Foundation (TRF) and its tennis program, South Bay Serves. Teens Rise Foundation received the San Diego Padres’ Comunidad Award in recognition of its meaningful impact in the Hispanic community. The honor included a $5,000 grant to support its programming and an opportunity to celebrate the people whose lives are touched by its work.

For Teens Rise Foundation Executive Director Gaby Millán, the award was about more than recognition. It was an opportunity to help ensure that a new generation of kids in South San Diego shine in sports and education. TRF has embraced grassroots tennis and thrived with help from community grants from the USTA Southern California and Southern California Tennis Association Foundation (SCTAF).

With free weekly group lessons at local courts, about two dozen Teens Rise Foundation youth have risen to the top of the USTA Junior Team Tennis (JTT) program. They recently finished second-place in their age group at the Spring USTA JTT Sectional Championships.

A Recognition That Became a Family Memory

The Padres Comunidad Awards honor individuals and organizations whose work positively impacts people who live and work in San Diego’s Hispanic community. Millán represented Teens Rise Foundation and its community impact. She received one ticket to accept the award but requested two so she could bring Michael onto the field.

Then something special happened. Teens Rise Foundation secured additional donations so Michael’s entire family could attend. Millán and other Teens Rise Foundation family members joined them, turning the occasion into a celebration that extended far beyond the award ceremony.

“I wanted true representation,” Millán said. “I wanted a kid to have this once in a lifetime experience. It was electric energy and really exciting.”

But Millán’s focus remained on Michael.

“When he first walked onto the field, he was zoned out,” Millán recalled. “I asked him what he was thinking. He said, ‘I’m just taking it all in…the crowd and the stadium.’”

For the entire Monzón family, the night was historic. They had never attended a professional baseball game or watched the Padres play in person. Baseball had only recently become an interest for the boys. They played for fun and followed the Padres, but organized baseball had never been part of their lives.

The family traveled to the stadium by trolley, explored parts of the ballpark, and took in an atmosphere unlike anything they had experienced. The Padres then presented Michael with a goodie bag in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. It included a Mexican-themed Padres jersey, an official Padres hat featuring Mexico’s colors and flag, and a Padres T-shirt. Teens Rise Foundation added a backpack and an oversized foam finger.

“I asked Michael what this means to him,” Millán said. “He was so excited. He was bragging to his friends that he would be on the actual baseball field during a game, and they didn’t believe him.”

The experience offered Michael more than a memorable night out. It gave him a chance to feel connected to his hometown team and proud of his Hispanic heritage.

A Father’s Determination to Create Better Opportunities

Michael’s father, Alex Monzón, understands how important those opportunities can be. He works two jobs to support his family, handling medical billing for an eye doctor during the week and occasionally working in event catering on weekends. Through catering, he is learning about hospitality, banquet setup, and the business. He values learning through experience, including making mistakes and understanding how to improve the next time.

Alex grew up in Chula Vista in a single-parent household and remembers having limited opportunities as a child. As an adult, he made a conscious decision to change direction, work hard, and build a different future for his children.

“I was raised by my mom, and we didn’t have many opportunities,” Alex said. “I wanted a better life, so I did a 180. I worked hard and got back into society. I’m teaching my children those values, and tennis is a part of it.”

For Alex, tennis is not simply a sport. It is a way to teach discipline, responsibility, and the importance of making positive choices. He takes his three children to tennis activities throughout the week when work and transportation allow. He also helps coach when needed, provides court safety, and ball pickup. His wife, Ashley, helps transport the children to weekend classes and supports the program when Alex is teaching.

With one family car, three kids and two jobs to juggle, making it all work takes planning and commitment for the Monzóns.

“Transportation is a challenge,” Alex said. “We do the best we can and work with other families so our kids can get to practices and matches.”

Still, the family makes tennis a priority. Through TRF-South Bay Serves, the children have access to structured activities, coaching, and opportunities to compete—experiences Alex says he could not provide on his own.

“Teens Rise Foundation and tennis have become a part of our community,” he said. “I am more active and help on and off court. It gives our family something to look forward to.”

He hopes his children will eventually become leaders in tennis in the South Bay and throughout San Diego. He sees the sport as a pathway to tournaments, after-school activities, friendships, networking, education, and even entrepreneurial skills. Most importantly, he wants his children to stay busy, make good decisions, and build a future filled with possibilities.

More Than Tennis: TRF Builds Pathways to a Brighter Future

For Millán, those experiences are central to Teens Rise Foundation’s mission. The organization strives to give children access to positive activities, supportive relationships, and experiences that broaden their view of what is possible. Its tennis program offers more than instruction in fundamentals and match play. It creates a setting where young people can learn to set goals, work toward them, and understand how today’s choices can affect tomorrow’s opportunities.

“Our goal is to increase weekly activity. Oftentimes they don’t get this at home or in school, so we want to give them two active hours a week per child,” Millán said.

Her motivation is rooted in the belief that a child’s future should not be limited by a lack of access. Through tennis, children learn that progress takes effort and that reaching a goal often requires patience, commitment, and sound decision-making. They also begin to see the connection between education, employment, and the ability to pursue their interests as adults. Millán also wants young people to understand that there are ways to create opportunities for themselves, even when finances are limited.

“Kids learn that if they want to do things that cost money, there are ways to make it happen. Get an education. Get a good job. Find a career that you love,” she said.

Teens Rise Foundation works to help children find pathways to education and develop decision-making skills at an early age. The goal is to provide a safe, encouraging environment while showing them possibilities beyond their immediate circumstances.

“We want to keep them on the court and out of trouble,” Millán said. “They are in a safe place learning to play a great sport. It is why we do what we do. We provide a safety net along with an opportunity for a bright future.”

A Community Award with Lasting Impact

For Teens Rise Foundation, the $5,000 grant represents tangible support for its programs. But the award’s impact can also be seen in the experiences it helped make possible for a family like the Monzóns.

A father working two jobs now has a community of people helping his children grow. A 12-year-old boy who had never attended a professional baseball game found himself standing on the field at Petco Park, surrounded by the lights, the crowd, and the excitement of his hometown team.

For one night, Michael’s world grew a little bigger.

That is what Millán hopes Teens Rise Foundation can continue to offer for all its participants—not just tennis lessons, but opportunities in education and beyond that help children imagine a different future and take the first steps toward achieving it. Because sometimes, changing a life begins with a tennis racket, a supportive community, and the chance to step onto a field that once seemed out of reach.

—

Learn more about the SCTA Foundation at sctafoundation.org.

+++

About the Author: Karen Ronney is an award-winning national coach, author, speaker, mentor, and marketing specialist with a Master’s Degree in Professional Tennis Management from San Diego State University. A USPTA Elite and PTR Professional certified teaching pro,  she was named 2020 High School Coach of the Year by both the USPTA and the Racquet Sports Industry. Her USTA roles include National 10 & Under Faculty Member, Tennis Service Representative, and 10 & Under Tennis Target Market Specialist. As a former staff writer for the Chicago Tribune, LA Times, LA Daily News, and San Diego Union Tribune, she authored the 34 award-winning ‘Proud Parents’ Guide to Raising Athletic, Balanced, and Coordinated Kids.’ She is the Marketing Director for SCTA Foundation.