My name is Max Shilt, and tennis has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I grew up on court, training, competing, coaching, and spending most of my time inside the tennis community, and over the years the sport shaped how I think, how I work, and how I connect with people. Tennis gave me discipline, structure, and a real sense of community, but it also made me notice something that never quite sat right with me.

At my academy, new cans of balls were opened constantly, and after a short period of use they were pushed aside and forgotten. I asked my coach what happened to them, and the answer was simple. Most were thrown away. That stuck with me, not because it was dramatic, but because it felt unnecessary. The balls weren’t broken. They just weren’t good enough for competitive play anymore.

BounceBackBalls started with me collecting extra balls after practice instead of letting them end up in the trash, and it has grown into a project across Miami. Used tennis and padel balls are picked up and given a second life where they can still be useful. Schools use them in PE classes, nursing homes place them on walkers, and animal shelters turn them into toys, and in each case the ball continues to serve a purpose beyond the court.

Running BounceBackBalls has shown me that small, consistent actions add up. One pickup leads to another, one conversation turns into a partnership, and over time real impact takes shape. This isn’t just about old tennis balls. It’s about responsibility, creativity, and choosing to care.

Miami is where this started, and it’s where it continues to grow. With the support of players, families, and local organizations, BounceBackBalls is keeping waste out of landfills and putting resources back into the community, one ball at a time.