Serve the Future + ONUG: A Story of Connection, Compassion, and the Courage to Lift the Next Generation

Sometimes the most powerful tech partnerships begin in the most unexpected places — like a tennis court in Phoenix, Arizona.

How a Tennis Coach, a Tech Leader, and a Shared Vision Sparked a Movement

That’s where Leslie Banks, founder of Serve the Future, met Jeremy Rossbach, Chief Technical Evangelist at Broadcom. What began as tennis lessons quickly turned into something far greater. Jeremy saw how Leslie’s foundation was transforming the lives of children from underserved communities — not just teaching tennis, but teaching resilience, focus, and self-worth.

“Jeremy grew up in circumstances that mirrored many of our students,” Leslie recalls. “When he saw what we were doing for these kids, he didn’t just want to help — he had to.”

Moved by that connection, Jeremy volunteered his marketing expertise to help the foundation tell its story. But he didn’t stop there. Through his role in the Open Networking User Group (ONUG) community, he saw a rare opportunity — to bring the heart of service into the heart of the tech world.

The Spark That Became a Movement

Jeremy reached out to ONUG co-founder Nick Lippis and marketing director Joann Varello, suggesting they feature a nonprofit at their upcoming AI Networking Summit — a nonprofit that would show how the technology community could directly uplift humanity.

“They immediately loved the idea,” Leslie says. “They didn’t hesitate. It was one of those moments where you realize that the right people, in the right rooms, can change the world.”

For ONUG, it wasn’t just a sponsorship. It was a statement — that technology and compassion are not opposites; they’re allies.

From the Court to the Conference Floor

Serve the Future’s message was simple: You can’t build the future if you leave its children behind.

Leslie and her small team shared stories of transformation — like Joshua Pelaez, a young boy who overcame personal hardships and language barriers to win the USTA Foundation’s national essay contest. His essay, “Finding Your Way,” spoke of courage, gratitude, and the will to keep going.

“That essay wasn’t just Joshua’s story,” Leslie says softly. “It’s the story of every child we serve. They’re all finding their way.”

Those stories resonated deeply with ONUG’s attendees. The hum of technology, AI, and automation was suddenly joined by something quieter — heart. “People would come to our booth and tell us they hadn’t expected something like this at a tech conference and that is so necessary and relevant,” Leslie says with hope. 

Technology with Heart

For Leslie, AI has been more than a buzzword — it’s been a bridge. Serve the Future runs on a tiny budget and an even tinier staff, but AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Runway have turned them into a powerhouse of creativity and efficiency.

“AI lets us do the work of ten people with just two,” she says. “Every minute we save, every dollar we don’t have to spend on outside help — that all goes back to the kids.”

It’s an example of technology fulfilling its highest purpose: amplifying human goodness.

An Unexpected Outpouring of Compassion

At ONUG’s AI Networking Summit, what started as a simple booth became a movement.

Two entrepreneurs — Omar B. of EasyPeasy.Chat and Ethan Weibman of NoScope Studio — stopped by to chat. Within minutes, they were offering their services: a free chatbot, discounted AI video creation, and ongoing support.

“Getting people to donate money is wonderful,” Leslie says, “but getting them to donate their time, their talent, their technology — that’s something else entirely. That’s love in action.”

Other vendors soon followed, pledging to sponsor Serve the Future’s Winter Triples Tennis Tournament, the organization’s largest annual fundraiser. “You could see it on their faces,” Leslie adds. “They realized this wasn’t charity. It is partnership. It is purpose.”

Redefining What It Means to Serve

ONUG’s decision to spotlight Serve the Future wasn’t just generous — it was transformative. They proved that weaving compassion into innovation doesn’t take much. A little space. A little visibility. A little willingness to say yes.

“They gave us a platform, and it changed everything,” Leslie says. “But more importantly, they gave hundreds of children the message that they matter — that the world hasn’t forgotten them.”

Nick Lippis captured the spirit perfectly in his post after the event: “I’m really inspired by the work Serve the Future is doing to lift up the next generation. Proud to spotlight them at this year’s AI Networking Summit.”

A Future Built on Connection

Today, Serve the Future continues to grow — not just in numbers, but in heart. The foundation’s students are finding their voices, their confidence, and their sense of belonging. And thanks to ONUG’s example, more companies are beginning to see philanthropy not as an afterthought, but as an integral part of innovation.

“When the tech world and the community world come together,” Leslie says, “we don’t just raise funds. We raise hope. We raise leaders. We raise the future.”

Closing Reflection

This partnership began with two people who believed that talent and empathy should never be separate forces. It has since become a reminder to all of us — that the strongest networks aren’t just built from cables and code, but from connection.

And when technology serves humanity, humanity rises.