To continue to highlight the impact of our organization over the last 13 years, we are thrilled to announce a new monthly spotlight series that focuses on the doers and dreamers that push Excite All Stars forward.

The Excite All Stars family is made up of truly tremendous young adults who embody leadership and mentorship in every corner of their lives. To kick off our monthly series, we wanted to shine a light on our very own athletics ambassador and tennis star, Micah Pierce!

An avid tennis player since she was five years old, Micah Pierce got her start with Excite All Stars in 2020 while looking for opportunities to give back to her community through her love of the sport. Luckily, she found just the right fit volunteering as our tennis ambassador doing what she loves most -- playing tennis and mentoring kids!

“My favorite part about mentoring kids is just seeing them have fun while playing tennis,” says Micah. “Tennis is a game that could change a lot of childrens’ lives in the long run, so to see them having fun with it, trying new things and giving it their best is such a great thing to be a part of.”

Micah knows the positive impact that a sport or hobby can have on a child’s life, but unfortunately there are many children who lack the resources or privileges to learn a sport like tennis. However, Excite All Stars aims to change to change that. By providing rackets, tennis balls, free coaching and a safe place for youth of all ages to develop their skills, we’re providing the resources needed to give all youth the same opportunities to succeed despite their backgrounds or hardships.

“I think EAS is making a major impact in the tennis community in New Orleans, especially in the East. The East of New Orleans is undoubtedly one of the most underfunded and overlooked parts of the city,” said Micah.”EAS is located in a great spot at Joe Brown Park and many of these underprivileged kids can finally get the opportunity they deserve to grow and develop their game at no cost, which can be life-changing.”

Over the last few months volunteering with Excite All Stars, Micah has learned no shortage of lessons as she has experienced first-hand the ways mentorship and skill building can make a difference in a child’s life.

“I’ve learned that giving back to your community and children that may not be as fortunate as I am could have a lasting effect for a lifetime, even if it is just a small gesture,” said Micah. “It feels great to be able to teach other kids the sport of tennis because I was once in the same shoes that they were.”

When Micah is off the court, she enjoys spending her free time like most teenagers; shopping, baking, hanging out with friends and going to Pelican and Saints games. After graduating high school, she hopes to attend a D1 school of her choice to continue her dream of playing professional tennis.

Learn more about how you can support our mission of helping each and every child find their inner All Star by visiting our website here.