Kindness does indeed win

Since 2020, Kindness Wins—a charitable foundation launched by Rock Island-born tennis star Madison Keys—has promoted access to sports and education to create a kinder world one opportunity at a time. This summer, Madison and her family moved their foundation to the Quad Cities Community Foundation, confident it would move their mission forward.

“We’re proud that the Keys family and the Kindness Wins team trust the Community Foundation to maintain their charitable fund,” said Anne Calder, vice president of development. “As an organization, they are building the kinder, more accepting world we all want to see.”

A Grand Slam finalist, Madison holds seven Women’s Tennis Association titles. As a public figure, she became all too familiar with the toxic world of social media and online commentary; she was also aware that competition can sometimes overshadow sportsmanship.

“The world needs more kindness,” Madison said. “I grew up believing that sportsmanship can be competitive and kind. I looked up to Kim Clijsters. She was the number one ranked tennis player, and she always demonstrated that you can be a good person at the same time. I wanted to model myself after that principle.”

“Madison is like a big sister,” said Christine, her mother and president of Kindness Wins. “We know there is a lot of pressure on young people, and she wants to give them opportunities they might not even know about. Tennis is for everyone; kindness is for everyone.”

Madison started her tennis journey at the Quad Cities Tennis Club in Moline when she was four years old. Now, she travels the globe and recently played in the U.S. Open as the #14 player in the world. And yet, the Kindness Wins Fund maintains a connection to her Quad Cities home.

“The Community Foundation is a natural home for this fund,” said Christine. “When we saw the names and organizations that trust the Community Foundation, and the impact they make with grants and scholarships, we knew they could help us maintain and grow our mission.”

The fund will continue to look for “pockets of kindness” to highlight. For Madison, the mission is simple: “I want to leave the world in a kinder and a better place than what I found it.”

 

Peter Finger Photographer

 

We “kind”-a really love this!

Community Foundation donors are making kindness happen. Here are just a few other funds that are focused on making the community a kinder place. Want to join the list? Call Anne Calder at (563) 326-2840.

  • Wil Hanson Inspire Kindness Scholarship

  • Tyler Hurd Best Friend Scholarship

  • David and Michelle Caring and Compassion Scholarship

  • Rahila A. Foad and Foad Family Kindness Scholarship

  • Donna’s Gift for Bettendorf Schools

  • Donna’s Gift for Pleasant Valley Schools

  • Judith Wade Scholarship

  • Ian Kaffenberger Memorial Scholarship

  • Russ Murphy Pay it Forward Scholarship

  • Chris (Murphy) Grillot Nursing Scholarship

  • Jayne Lee Andreesen Memorial Scholarship

  • Mariah Becker Memorial Scholarship

Will Van Camp