Fundraising effort aims to help Costa Mesa Tennis Center pro shop after series of break-ins

Hank Lloyd’s Costa Mesa Tennis Center pro shop has had a rough time lately.

In recent weeks, a string of break-ins has resulted in damage to the property and lost cash and merchandise.

So when Ryan Broccolo of Fountain Valley and Clark Hyman of Coto de Caza heard about Lloyd’s troubles, they decided to do something to help.

Their efforts turned into an online fundraising campaign with the goal of raising $8,000. After nearly three weeks, they’ve raised nearly $2,800 from 38 donors.

Broccolo and Hyman, who are friends of Lloyd and his family, set up the GoFundMe page unbeknownst to Lloyd, who first heard about the effort when the Daily Pilot asked him about it.

Lloyd said he was “almost embarrassed” by the outpouring of support for him and the shop and that he felt at a loss for words.

“It’s kind of nice to have that reaction,” he said, “but you hate to have it done for something like this.”

The Costa Mesa Tennis Center on Junipero Drive is owned by the city, but Lloyd is responsible for the shop.

Lloyd, considered a legend of the Orange County tennis community, said the business has been broken into three times in about two months. .

Police arrested a 17-year-old Costa Mesa resident suspected of committing the second break-in June 3.

Broccolo said he hopes the money raised on the GoFundMe page will go toward a new ice machine for the shop, among other things.

“I wanted to light the fire and get something going,” he said. “I can’t think of a more influential, passionate person in the sport of tennis” than Hank Lloyd.

To donate, visit gofundme.com and search for “Hank Lloyd.”