By Cristina Cabrera Jarro -

Photography: CRISTINA CABRERA JARRO | FC

MIAMI | Novak Djokovic has achieved many victories in tennis courts around the world. Right now, he is ranked number one in men’s singles tennis and is taking top place on the leader board at the Miami Open.

What many people don’t know is that he is also achieving victories off the court, by financially supporting early childhood education and development programs for children.

Briefly stepping away from the Miami Open, Djokovic visited with staff and children of Centro Mater East Childcare Center March 28. The visit coincided with a $20,000 donation from the Novak Djokovic Foundation, which has invested in early education projects in Australia, the Balkans, Serbia and North America since 2007.

“Supporting the dreams of children is so important to Jelena (his wife) and me, and it will always be,” said Djokovic. “We have a long-term vision for our foundation to support disadvantaged children in reaching their potential.”

Putting the children’s schedule ahead of his own, Djokovic made sure his visit did not interrupt their nap time. The children’s faces lit up as he toured the center, walked into classrooms, gave high fives and hugs, and even sat with the children for some valuable alphabet lessons.

Djokovic taught lessons of his own, as he quizzed kids on the color of a tennis ball, the name of the object used to hit the tennis ball, and what separates two tennis players on a court.

In anticipation of his visit, the children were shown photos and videos of tennis, as well as Djokovic playing. A special highlight: the ball-in-pocket catch that wowed spectators at the Miami Open March 25.

“We are thrilled for the donation, but that he also came out was great for the kids,” said Madelyn Rodriguez, program director of Centro Mater East. 

Rodriguez was contacted about the donation by Evelio Torres, CEO of the Early Learning Coalition. She said the recommendation for the donation came via Alberto Lidji, the Novak Djokovic Foundation’s Global CEO, who is known for helping out in cities that he visits. He listed simple criteria for a location to help: an institution by the Rickenbacker Causeway, that serves the inner city and is excellent. Centro Mater was their clear choice.

“They interviewed me and we went back and forth,” said Rodriguez. “They’re donating money and they don’t want to be associated with just anybody. They wanted to know about our program, our accreditations, our funding sources and to see that we’re reputable.”

Now in its 48th year, Centro Mater Child Care Services is a nonprofit organization that assists low-income families and their children, providing care for children from six weeks to 12 years of age. All five Centro Mater centers are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children and have a five-star rating from the Quality Counts initiative.

Centro Mater operates under the auspices of Catholic Health Services.

According to Octavio Verdeja, Jr., the Centro Mater Foundation’s chair, the Djokovic donation will help with the summer learning camp hosted annually at Centro Mater centers.

Perhaps Djokovic’s visit also will inspire the start of future tennis player’s journey.