OUR TEAM

Founder: Roger Lu

I'm Roger, a professional tennis coach with a U.S. tennis coaching license and the founder of United Through Sports. I have nearly eight years of teaching experience in New York. My focus extends beyond tennis instruction—I aim to harness the power of sports to impact and support young people with special needs.

My passion for philanthropy stems from a simple belief: Every child has the right to enjoy the joy of sports and the opportunity to be accepted and recognized. I have witnessed the profound changes that sports can bring—it boosts children's confidence, focus, and social skills while also fostering love and connection within families and communities.

Currently, my team and I are working hard on the Love and Care Initiative, offering free tennis lessons to young people with autism, ADHD, and other special needs. Our goal is not just to teach tennis but to use this platform to cultivate a spirit of mutual support and giving, creating a community filled with love.

As a coach and an advocate for social impact, I hope to use my expertise to help more children and families. If you share my passion for tennis and care about the growth and well-being of young people with special needs, we warmly welcome you to join our family. Together, let's change the world with love and action!

"Tennis is more than just a sport—it is a bridge that connects every heart longing for acceptance."

Yunyan (Claire) Lu

Co- founder

Director of Outreach & Systems

Growing up with my dad, a professional tennis coach, I was deeply influenced by his enthusiasm for sports. His influence sparked me, and I became passionate about tennis. I joined my high school tennis team all four years. Beyond competing, I worked alongside my dad’s summer program as a coaching assistant over the summer in high school. I had the opportunity to work with children of all backgrounds, including children with special needs.

When I communicate with children with special needs, I realize that traditional instructions didn’t always resonate with them. This difference challenged me to think creatively about how to communicate more effectively. This experience opened my eyes to a deeper need in the community. And together, my dad and I founded UTS— a non-profit organization dedicated to making tennis accessible for special children.

Now, as an undergraduate student at Cornell University, I continue to develop and apply my skills in service of this mission. As a college student, I can use my expertise to better this organization in different ways, such as managing communications, organizing volunteer data, and building engaging digital platforms. It’s incredibly rewarding to merge my passion for tennis with a purpose that reaches beyond the court.

Mingdong Li （Oliver）

Joint Initiator & Director of Fundraising and Marketing

As a tennis enthusiast and a member of an Asian immigrant family, I knew firsthand how hard it was to find a space where neurodiverse children—especially those from Asian backgrounds—felt safe, supported, and understood. That gap is what led me to co- initiate United Through Sports.

I’m deeply committed to building inclusive communities where sport becomes a bridge—for confidence, connection, and belonging. With several years of experience in business development and entrepreneurship, along with a degree in Public Relations and Psychology from Boston University and a master’s in Management from Brown, I now lead our development and communications—ensuring our stories are heard, our mission is funded, and no family feels alone.

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