By Jenna Jarrah
Last week, Mika’s Tennis Academy hosted its Winter Wonderland fundraising event in Van Nuys to bring together families, athletes, local businesses, and the community in support of MTA Youth Foundation, a nonprofit that provides access to racquet sports, professional coaching, and mentorship to underserved children.
The holiday event featured tennis and pickleball, cookie decorating, vendors, raffles and music.
The Youth Foundation, established earlier this year, has a mission to break financial barriers in tennis, and support children from low-income families by providing sponsorships for tuition scholarships, equipment, coaching and pathways for competing.
“I built this foundation so children aren’t shut out of opportunity by their financial circumstances,” said Mika Sakvarelidze, the founder and director of the Youth Foundation.
Sakvarelidze first started playing tennis when he was 5. When he and his family immigrated to the U.S. from war-torn Georgia, Sakvarelidze didn’t have money for lessons. Driven by passion and persistence, he earned a sponsorship into Les Pyramids Tennis Academy in France–a major sports complex offering youth and adult courses, camps, and professional training. It was an opportunity that Sakvarelidze says changed his life.
“Today countless children stand in the same place I once stood,” he said. “They are full of talent, passion, and potential, but are locked out by financial barriers. This foundation exists to change that.”
Sakvarelidze, who has been coaching in Los Angeles for 20 years, operates the Youth Foundation with his sister Anna, a Rotarian for 12 years who has dedicated her time to local service. Together they combined their expertise in professional tennis coaching and philanthropy to create opportunities for local kids.
“Bringing my background in philanthropy together with the MTA Youth Foundation is incredibly meaningful to me,” she said. “Supporting my brother’s mission to expand access to racquet sports for underserved kids allows us to create real opportunity, strengthen our community, and give children a safe space to grow, dream, and feel supported.”
Adam Haymes, a senior at The Buckley School and a second-year varsity tennis captain at his high school, has been playing with Sakvarelidze since he was in sixth grade.
“Mika’s sponsorship has provided me with countless opportunities in my life,” Haymes said. “Training at his academy has allowed me to excel at tennis. Having access to this sport has given me an outlet in life that makes me feel alive and I couldn’t imagine my life being the same without tennis.”
Adam’s mother, Elif agreed. “Adam has grown into a confident and responsible young man thanks to Mika’s foundation. He loves tennis and the foundation has given him the chance to be part of a wonderful community. It’s had a huge impact on every aspect of his life,” she said.
Haymes hopes to continue playing tennis in college, and is currently in the recruitment process.
Irina Vanowen, 12, is an established tennis player, has won multiple regional championships, and is currently sponsored for classes and clinics at MTA.
“He teaches with such intensity to get you better everyday,” she said. “He pays so much attention to every kid, and he teaches so amazingly you can’t even imagine.”
Passion, attention to detail, family and community effort, and love for the sport is what she and her father Nikolai cite as distinguishing aspects of Mika Tennis Academy that creates “athletes for life.”
Irina hopes to play professionally, earn the Wimbledon title, and earn a gold medal for the USA Women’s Tennis team.
“Some great stories will come out of this academy,” Sakvarelidze said.
The Youth Foundation has a goal to raise $50,000 to provide sponsorships for 20 local athletes in 2026.