Racquets For Riley was able to donate over $1,154 to the Kosciusko County Riley Kids Fund this summer. From left to right are Susie Light, Alan Alderfer, Camille Kerlin, Rick Kerlin, Diane Kerlin and Carson Kerlin. (Photos provided by Camille Kerlin)

WARSAW – Camille Kerlin and her team of fundraisers found 3,000 ways to outdo themselves. Raising $15,496.27 through the June Racquets For Riley tennis fundraiser, Kerlin topped her inaugural total by over $3,000 in money that goes to both Riley Children’s Hospital and the Kosciusko County Riley Kid’s Fund.

Kerlin, a freshly minted graduate of Warsaw Community High School, helped begin Racquets For Riley with the hope that a small gesture through donation, or playing tennis as a fundraiser, could generate funds to donate to both local and statewide children involved with Riley Children’s Hospital. Kerlin, who has spent much of her life dealing with heart and respiratory issues, found out first-hand what Riley Children’s Hospital meant to children in need and wanted to help the organizations that helped her rehabilitate.

Kerlin, who played tennis for Rick Orban’s girls tennis teams at Warsaw, started the initiative in 2014 and raised over $12,000, which was split between the Kosciusko County Riley Kid’s Fund and the state Riley chapter in Indianapolis. June’s totals, which were presented to the two organizations in the past two weeks, were overwhelming for Kerlin.

“I was so excited to exceed the previous total!”, she said. “I am planning to try to do it again next year even as I go to college.”

The Racquets For Riley event is not merely a morning of tennis matches at the WCHS tennis complex, but a fundraising campaign that begins months in advance. Kerlin had more than two dozen businesses donating along with the tennis players that donated on site. Kerlin also set up a web site to further the awareness.

Racquets For Riley was able to donate over $13,341 to the Riley Children’s Hospital this summer. From left to right are Carson Kerlin, Diane Kerlin, Camille Kerlin, foundation president Kevin O’Keefe and Rick Kerlin.