Keeping her dream alive: Triple Jam Fest to honor Danyelle Copeland

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... THOMASVILLE — Local music, lifelong friendships and tennis were among Danyelle Copeland's favorite things. On Sept. 19, friends and family will bring those passions together at the Triple Jam Fest, a festival named for Copeland's favorite cider and held in her honor to continue the work she began before her death. Copeland died Sept. 21, 2024, at age 33 from a brain aneurysm. Since her passing, close friend Brittany Froio said she has felt an overwhelming need to help carry out the dreams Copeland left behind. Froio first reached out to Copeland's brother, Josef, about establishing a foundation in Copeland's name through Growing the Game, the tennis organization she founded. The goal was to host a music festival that would raise money and bring attention to the organization's mission. 'He thought it was a great idea, so we asked permission from the rest of her family, as she would have wanted to make sure they were on board with us doing it before we started,' Froio said. Recognizing that everyone grieves differently and not wanting to add another responsibility to the Copeland family, Josef and Froio, along with Anna Carroll, began planning the Triple Jam Fest. Email newsletter signup The festival will raise money to renovate the tennis courts at the YMCA, where Copeland ran the tennis program. 'Her dream was to have indoor courts of her own one day. To get married and have kids and train tennis,' Froio said. 'She may not have accomplished all of her goals, but she left some smaller ones to try to achieve for her.' Froio said Copeland had long wanted to organize an effort to raise money to renovate the YMCA tennis courts. 'That's our first goal,' Froio said. Froio has been in contact with Mayor Scott Chastain, Parks and Recreation Manager Mike Owens and YMCA CEO Tom Everett to ensure money raised through the festival goes directly toward the tennis courts. Plans for the renovated courts include new fencing and lines, along with signage and a commemorative bench explaining Copeland's connection to the YMCA and her contributions to the community. Copeland also volunteered as a community coach at Thomas County Central High School. Since her passing, Josef has noticed an increased need for tennis instruction among high school players and has partnered with Florida State University's tennis coach to connect students who need additional instruction with tennis camps there. Money raised through the Triple Jam also will help support those students. 'I've already reached out to different coaches to see who on their team has a financial need or who has potential on their team that I can introduce to a greater development program for tennis,' Josef said. 'You really don't know you can do this for real unless someone tells you. There's more than just high school tennis.' The foundation also plans to help a young boy and girl who demonstrate an aptitude for tennis but lack the proper shoes, racquets or other equipment. Two needs-based scholarships will be awarded in Copeland's name, providing a year of tennis lessons at Glen Arven. Parents interested in applying are asked to email Josef and explain what their child needs, whether it is financial assistance or equipment. Josef will then evaluate the child on the court before determining whether a scholarship is appropriate. The Triple Jam Fest will be free to attend. Growing the Game merchandise will be available for purchase, along with raffle tickets and silent auction items, to help support the foundation's initiatives. Southern Sippin also is donating 10% of its sales to the Growing the Game Foundation. The festival will begin at 4 p.m. at the Ritz Amphitheater with Noah Henson of The Leftovers. Nic, Josh and John Streets will perform an acoustic set at 6 p.m., followed by Dana King with Gypsy Cotton, who will close the festival with a performance from 8 to 10 p.m. After the festival, the foundation will determine how much money was raised and begin working in phases toward Copeland's goals for the local tennis community. Carroll said she can already imagine Copeland standing on the completed courts with her 'megawatt smile,' dancing, celebrating and saying, 'Thank you.' More than anything, Carroll said, Copeland would give thanks to God, knowing that it was because of Him that the effort was possible. Organizers hope to make the Triple Jam an annual event each September, allowing the community to continue building on Copeland's dreams for tennis in Thomasville. 'I hope she's looking down on us proudly of our hard work that we've put in to keep her memory alive,' Froio said.