Our Impact

We Keep Score! (We're tennis players!)

For 17 years, QuickStart Children of Virginia has delivered joyful, developmentally rich programming to children across the Commonwealth. We started with tennis, physical activity and healthy eating and evolved into a statewide leader in early childhood literacy, school readiness and third‑grade reading success. Every number below represents a child reached, a family supported or a community strengthened.

By the Numbers

Years serving children: 17
People trained to teach using QuickStart format: 2,275
Schools with tennis in PE: 260
Students reached through school-based tennis: 119,000 (and that's not counting the turnover each year!)
Kids reached with the Go Bananas! campaign: 52,000
Go Bananas! cards created: 51
Kid-sized (36-foot) tennis courts built: 6
Kids reached with Racquets for Reading!!! book grants: 11,100 in 36 school divisions
Growth in Dolly Parton Imagination Library (DPIL) enrollment
- 13,700 children (Nov. 2020) -> to 100,000 children (Sept. 2026)
Increase in number of local DPIL programs:
- 23 programs (Nov. 2020) -> 99 programs (Sept. 2026)
State of Virginia Budget Amendment to fund half the cost of DIL books and postage for DPIL (6/2022)

How We Got Here

Over the years, we have launched dozens of campaigns, initiatives, projects and pilot programs. We began by helping schools and community providers introduce kid-sized tennis and healthy-eating programs to combat childhood obesity. As we listened to families, teachers and communities our mission evolved.

Today our primary focus is on early childhood literacy and improving school readiness and third grade reading

outcomes. Once we complete our "Dolly missions," who knows what we'll find to help improve the lives of kids.

Looking Ahead

We're proud of what we've built -- and excited for what comes next.

We look forward to our next adventure . . .