November 12, 2026 Submitted By
Henry and Graham McDevitt turned their love of tennis into an opportunity to give back, bringing together local businesses, young athletes, and the South Shore community.
Fourteen-year-old Hingham twins Henry and Graham McDevitt have spent countless hours on the tennis court. This fall, they decided to turn their passion for the sport into an opportunity to make a difference for other children.
The brothers created and organized Drive for 105, a junior tennis fundraiser at Weymouth Club that brought together 36 young players, 16 sponsors, and local volunteers, raising more than $4,000 for the South Shore Initiative (SSI).
Founded in 2000, SSI helps make tennis accessible to children whose families might otherwise be unable to afford lessons, clinics, and other programs.
“Tennis has always been a huge part of our lives, and we’ve been lucky to have great coaches, teammates, and opportunities to play,” the boys shared. “We wanted to help other kids have that chance, too.”
A Community Comes Together
The twins chose to organize a two-hour event centered around 105 tennis, a fast-paced doubles game that encourages teamwork and friendly competition.
But the work began long before anyone stepped onto the court.
Henry and Graham created flyers and walked through downtown Hingham, visiting local businesses and asking them to sponsor courts for $105 each. The response exceeded their expectations.
“We were so surprised at how kind and generous our community was!” they said.
The boys received enthusiastic support from businesses and community members, including Alice Pierce of Coldwell Banker, Derby Academy, Halcyon House Designs, Hingham Anchor, Loop Shuttle, Square Cafe, Strand Jewelry, and Whitney Gordon Jewelers, among other generous South Shore sponsors.
In all, 16 sponsors contributed to the event, demonstrating the community’s willingness to support a cause led by two young residents.
The boys also helped coordinate donations, recruit players, organize teams, and manage the many details involved in putting on a fundraiser.
They quickly discovered just how much work goes into organizing an event.
“We learned that organizing something like this takes a lot of planning, asking for help, and working as a team,” they shared.
The twins were still handling last-minute preparations early on the morning of the fundraiser, following a Halloween night spent trick-or-treating with friends in and around Hingham Square.
When the event finally began, 36 junior players from Weymouth Club’s junior programs took to the courts for two hours of tennis, teamwork, and friendly competition.
Players and coaches from the Thayer Academy and Braintree High School tennis teams also volunteered their time, helping create a fun and supportive atmosphere.
Making Tennis More Accessible
The event raised more than $4,000, with efforts already underway to direct the funds toward players and programs that will benefit from financial assistance.
For Henry and Graham, however, the most memorable part wasn’t the fundraising total.
“The best part was seeing everyone on court, having fun and supporting a cause bigger than tennis,” they said. “We were proud that our friends and fellow players wanted to be involved. It made all the planning worth it.”
Tennis runs in the family. Their mother, Diana McDevitt, is an avid player, and her family, the Goldmans, has owned Weymouth Club since 1988. Their father, Brady McDevitt, owns McDevitt Law Group in Hingham and can hold his own on the court.
While the boys had the support of their family, coaches, and the Weymouth Club community, they took an active role in planning and organizing the fundraiser themselves.
Just Getting Started
Drive for 105 may be their first major fundraising initiative, but Henry and Graham are already looking for more ways to give back.
Beginning in December, the brothers plan to volunteer again with ACEing Autism at Weymouth Club. The national program helps children on the autism spectrum develop confidence, social connections, and physical skills through adaptive tennis instruction.
The boys hope their experience encourages other young people to find ways to make a difference in their own communities.
“You don’t have to be an adult to organize something meaningful,” they shared.
Thanks to the generosity of local businesses, volunteers, families, and fellow junior players, their first effort has already made an impact.
