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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Blogs Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Classic Forums Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Multimedia Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Road Cams Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Distinctly Northwest Women in Business Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Customer Service Advertise With Us Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map Email Story to a Friend October 30, 2006 Kathy Symonds helped collect volleyballs for Medford YMCA teams through her network of friends. (Mail Tribune / Jim Craven) Volunteering volleyballs By John Darling for the Mail Tribune You might call her the volleyball fairy. As a volunteer, helping coach 75 kids on the Rogue Valley YMCA's teams in Medford, Kathy Symonds quickly learned they had only eight volleyballs — clearly not enough — so this retired, disabled former coach for many all-state high school teams in Connecticut decided to contact her network of friends. Within days, a landslide of brand new volleyballs began appearing at her Talent doorstep — and the happy Y teams, for ages 8 to 12, were back in business. "Kids and volleyball are the loves of my life," says Symonds, 52, who retired here to be near her parents after total hip replacement. Symonds e-mailed her friend Debbie Chin, director of athletics at University of New Haven, noting the Y has little funding for equipment and "if I could donate the money, I would. However, I am trying to survive on my disability retirement pension. It breaks my heart that I cannot contribute more than just my volunteer efforts." Chin spearheaded the drive to get volleyballs and old uniforms, which came from Symonds' former students, the coach who replaced her and the parents and grandparents of present volleyball team members at her old school, Amity High in Woodbridge, Conn. Advertisement As an incentive prize, Symonds obtained a football signed by Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, husband of a former volleyball student of hers. To date, 71 volleyballs have arrived, almost enough for every Y player to have one. Symonds coached Amity girls volleyball for 14 years, racking up a 93 percent win record. She coached the boys' team for nine years and won five state titles. She has been inducted into the Connecticut Volleyball Hall of Fame and was written up in Sports Illustrated in 1990 as one of the "Faces in the Crowd." Symonds undergoes extensive rehab therapy at the Ashland Y and volunteers with the Medford Y, teaching coaches how to coach volleyball players. She is also mentoring a player at North Medford High School. "The Medford Y is a very proud Y but they are financially challenged," says Symonds. "I'm very grateful they've given me this opportunity to help with teams. I'm overwhelmed by the support and caring of my friends and colleagues in Connecticut. It's an amazing thing." John Darling is a freelance writer living in Ashland. E-mail him at [email protected]. Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2007 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Online Casino Reviews Trunks, Footlocker Fundraisers UK Homeowner Loans Casinos Canada Cord Blood Banking Discount Hotel Reservations Texas Electric Choice Compare Electric rates in Texas Online Casino Windermere Van Vleet Men's Clothing Debt Help New Hampshire Primary