Jon H.
In 2017, Jon had a spinal cord tumor removed from his neck. The surgery left him with lasting challenges, but it didn’t take away his competitive spirit.
As a part of our mission to empower athletes of all abilities, the IM ABLE Foundation proudly partnered with the 2025 Performance Volvo Pro Tennis Challenge to raise money in support of Jon Hayashi and his pursuit of wheelchair tennis.
A 2-day exhibition match, held in Wyomissing’s own backyard at the Emkey Tennis Garden, featured star talent who competed in this year’s US Open. The 6th annual exhibition match was brought to Berks County by the Berks County Tennis Association with the addition of IM ABLE as the charity recipient of all proceeds.
Jon Hayashi has been pursuing wheelchair tennis for the last three years, following the removal of a spinal cord tumor in 2017. In wheelchair tennis, the wrong equipment can easily lead to tipping and injuries. With the right chair, Jon would be able to take his game to the next level and safely compete against stronger players at tournaments.
The acquisition of a new chair for Jon would enable him to continue pursuing his passion for tennis.
Not only did the tournament successfully raise enough funds to fully support Jon’s campaign for a specialized tennis wheelchair, but in a powerful full-circle moment, Jon chose to pay it forward—donating his previous GRIT chair to the IM ABLE Foundation to empower another athlete on their journey.
Conceptualized in 2019, the Performance Volvo Pro Tennis Challenge charity tournament has always striven to positively impact the Berks community, bringing philanthropy and world class tennis to Southeastern Pennsylvania. Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) athletes have continuously returned to face off on the Emkey Tennis Garden Courts, both to inspire community and tune-up before their debut in the US Open. The Emkey Tennis Garden, due to their pristine hard courts, has been a key facilitator for the event, providing professional grade courts for the ATP Athletes. Along with fantastic courts and a beautiful garden, the setting of a suburban backyard for the charity tournament helps set the mood for the core focus of the event, family and community.
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Hundreds of people thank you, more are waiting.
We are here for Jon and for hundreds of other families every year who are looking for an inclusive community where everybody can participate.
It isn’t possible without this community, without you. You’ve given so much to this mission and we’ve helped athletes of all abilities realize that there are no obstacles that we cannot overcome as a community.
