Our Story:
Taylor and Sophia at one of their High School squash matches
Keystone was founded in September 2016 by Taylor Richards and Sophia Cortellesi, their sophomore year of high school. They were inspired by City Squash in the Bronx and Squash Haven in New Haven, two programs which aim to get kids off the street and on the squash court. After shadowing and volunteering at both, Taylor and Sophia worked with Sportsplex in Stamford Connecticut to help kickstart their own program locally. Presenting and interviewing at a variety of community centers and schools, they made a contract with The DOMUS Kids Chester Addison Community Center. Since then, Taylor and Sophia have created their own STEM curriculum and squash training program, recruited squash players and tutors from their school to work as mentors, and held fundraisers and equipment drives.
They are working to become recognized as a 501(c)(3) non-profit. They are also in contact with The Squash and Education Alliance, a governing body that oversees organizations such as City Squash, Squash Haven, Street Squash, and many others nationally and internationally, and are on the path to becoming affiliated. Keystone Squash has been as much a learning experience for Taylor and Sophia as for the students, and they have had the best time working with them.