Embrace Your Dreams is a non-profit organization located in Bethlehem whose mission is to teach life skills and core values to children between the ages of 8-18 through the games of golf and tennis.

“We expose kids to those games, but once we get them in, we teach things like honesty, respect, responsibility, and how to be better kids,” said Fred Keller, executive director of Embrace Your Dreams.

The golf program, called The First Tee, uses local pros and golf teachers from local courses to teach the game of golf at the Bethlehem Municipal, Allentown Municipal, and Willow Brook, hoping to add Green Pond this year.

The tennis program, called the National Junior Tennis and Learning Network, uses Northampton Community College’s women’s tennis team coach, Megan Sell, and some of her players to teach the game of tennis at Sand Island in Bethlehem and Roosevelt Park in South Allentown, hoping to run a program at Lehigh University in the near future.

Embrace Your Dreams typically does outreach in the fall and spring, going into the local elementary schools and the schools’ gyms, including a facility in Marvine Village, right across the street from the Bethlehem Boys’ & Girls’ Club.

“Many of the kids who have gone through the golf and tennis programs have eventually made their high school teams,” Keller said.

As with any non-profit, funding is needed to continue to do more.

“The community has been very helpful with equipment,” said Keller. “We’d like to spread general awareness because we do need funding.”

Embrace Your Dreams was founded in 2000 by local businessman, Peter Fuller. It began as a tennis program at Jordan Park in Allentown; then, it evolved into golf. Fuller’s son, Zach, is on the board of directors.

To volunteer, donate, or partner with Embrace Your Dreams, contact Fred Keller at fkeller@embraceyourdreams.org.