Lulu’s Place is more than a project—it is a living legacy and a testament to Carol “Lulu” Kimmelman.
This monumental project is inspired by the passion and generosity of Lulu, a California native, lifelong tennis player, and former public school teacher who believed deeply in the power of education and sports to transform the lives of young people.
A member of USC’s 1983 NCAA National Championship women’s tennis team, Lulu continued competing throughout her life. After college, she taught at Raymond Avenue Elementary in South Los Angeles, where she was a beloved educator who cared profoundly for her students.
Her desire to help others led her to create academic scholarships, volunteer her time, and serve on the USTA Foundation board of directors, where she received the Foundation’s inaugural Service Award. Her dream was always to bring tennis to underserved children like those she taught at Raymond Avenue Elementary.
Carrying Forward Her Vision
Lulu passed away in January 2017, at age 53, after a courageous battle with ovarian cancer. Her husband, Doug Kimmelman, and their four children are carrying on her mission to make sports and education more accessible by building this transformational youth center.
Together, the Kimmelman family is ensuring that Lulu’s dream—to bring opportunity, mentorship, and hope to underserved children—becomes a reality for generations to come.