Spotlight on the IM ABLE Foundation: Using Sports to Change Lives
- maddieh3
- Mar 15
- 3 min read
At the heart of the Performance Volvo Cars Pro Tennis Challenge is a commitment to using sport as a force for good. Each year, the tournament partners with organizations that make a meaningful impact in the community. In 2025, the IM ABLE Foundation proudly served as the tournament’s charitable beneficiary.
Following a powerful and inspiring partnership last year, the IM ABLE Foundation will also return as the recipient organization for the 2026 tournament, continuing the event’s mission of using tennis to create a positive change.
Through this collaboration, the tournament is helping expand awareness of adaptive sports while supporting programs that empower individuals of all abilities to stay active.
A Mission Built on Possibility
The IM ABLE Foundation is dedicated to removing obstacles that prevent individuals with disabilities from being physically active.
Through adaptive sports programs, specialized equipment grants, and community initiatives, the organization helps people discover the independence, confidence, and joy that comes with movement and physical activity.
From cycling and fitness training to adaptive athletics like wheelchair tennis, IM ABLE creates opportunities to challenge themselves, build confidence, and connect with others through sports.
Their work goes far beyond athletics. IM ABLE is about empowerment, inclusion, and opening doors that allow people to experience life without any limitations.
Bringing Awareness Through Tennis
The partnership between the Performance Volvo Cars Pro Tennis Challenge and the IM ABLE Foundation highlights the powerful role sports can play in expanding opportunity.
With a focus on wheelchair tennis, the collaboration shines a light on one of the fastest-growing adaptive sports in the world and a discipline that requires incredible skill, strategy, and athleticism.
Throughout the tournament week, fans and participants have the opportunity to learn more about the adaptive sports and the mission behind the IM ABLE Foundation, reinforcing the idea that tennis can be a platform for both competition and community impact.
Experiencing the Sport Firsthand
One of the most powerful ways to understand adaptive sports is to experience them firsthand.
Members of the tournament team and community had the opportunity to step into wheelchair tennis chairs and try the sport themselves, gaining a new appreciation for the skill, strength, and determination required to compete at a high level.
These experiences offered a new perspective on the athleticism involved in wheelchair tennis while highlighting the importance of organizations like the IM ABLE Foundation that work to make adaptive sports accessible.
The photos captured from these moments tell a powerful story; one of learning, respect, and a deeper appreciation for athletes who continue to push boundaries.
Turning Support Into Real Opportunity
The impact of the 2025 partnership with the IM ABLE Foundation went far beyond the tennis court.
During the tournament, the event raised $10,000 in support of IM ABLE’s mission, helping expand the opportunities for adaptive sports and accessibility. As part of that effort, Performance Volvo Cars, the tournament’s title sponsor, contributed $3,000 toward the purchase of a specialized sports wheelchair for competitive wheelchair tennis player, Jon Hayashi.
Jon began pursuing wheelchair tennis after having a spinal cord tumor removed in 2017, a surgery that left him with lasting physical challenges but never diminished his competitive spirit.
In wheelchair tennis, specialized sports chairs are essential. Designed for speed, stability, and agility, these chairs allow athletes to move quickly across the country while maintaining control during intense rallies.
With the support of the tournament and the IM ABLE Foundation, Job received a new tennis wheelchair that will allow him to continue training and competing at a higher level.
In a powerful full-circle moment, Jon chose to donate his previous wheelchair back to the IM ABLE Foundation, allowing another athlete to begin their own adaptive sports journey.
Stories like Jon’s capture the true impact of the tournament, using tennis not only to bring people together, but to create opportunities that can change lives.
A Partnership That Extends Beyond the Tournament
The connection between Performance Motors and the IM ABLE Foundation extends well beyond tournament week.
Performance Motors has proudly supported IM ABLE’s mission outside of the Pro Tennis Challenge as well, helping raise awareness for adaptive sports and the organization’s work throughout the community.
By continuing to support programs that remove barriers to physical activity, this partnership ensures that more individuals have the opportunity to experience the confidence, independence, and joy that sports can provide.
Looking Ahead
The Performance Volvo Cars Pro Tennis Challenge has always been about more than just tennis. Over the years, the event has supported important charitable initiatives while bringing the community together around a shared love of the sport.
Partnering with the IM ABLE Foundation in both 2025 and 2026 continues that tradition.
As the tournament continues to grow, so does its ability to make a lasting impact, both on the court, and off.
Through tennis, community support, and partnerships like this one, the event continues to prove that sport has the power to change lives.
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