STEFANIFOREVER20
She was twenty. She stays twenty.
September 23, 1996 — December 3, 2016
A tennis foundation in loving memory
STEFANIFOREVER20
TENNIS FOUNDATION
She was twenty. She stays twenty.
Making coaching, gear and mental-health support available to every young player who wants to play.
Two Causes.
One Powerful Night.
Every dollar raised at our next event goes directly to two transformative programs — one on the courts of Mozambique, one on the walls of New York City.
Tennis Massification Program
In partnership with Clube de Tenis de Maputo — Mozambique's leading tennis club and the engine behind the country's mass participation movement — we are bringing the sport to children who have never had access to it.
Why Mozambique?
Mozambique is one of the fastest-growing nations in sub-Saharan Africa, yet access to organized sport remains out of reach for most children. Tennis — a sport that builds discipline, focus, and resilience — is almost entirely absent from public schools and orphanages. Clube de Tenis de Maputo is already on the ground, with courts, coaches, and community trust. We are the bridge that brings resources to meet their vision: a generation of Mozambican children who grow up knowing they belong on a tennis court.
What Your Donation Funds
- 🎾Tennis clinics at public schools in Maputo — free, structured, coached
- 👟Rackets, balls, shoes & apparel for children who cannot afford equipment
- 🏠Outreach to orphanages — giving children in care their first experience of sport
- 🏅Sponsorships for standout young players to compete at regional level
- 👨🏫Coach development — training local coaches to sustain the program long-term
- 📈Mass participation drives to grow tennis from an elite sport to a community one
Clube de Tenis de Maputo · In Action
myMURAL — NYC Community Mural Series
A series of large-scale murals transforming neglected walls across New York City into bold, permanent public art — painted by muralist Tim Abraham, who invites the surrounding community to participate: children draw, add color, and write words directly into the work, making every wall a living collaboration between artist and neighborhood.
Lead Muralist
Tim Abraham
A celebrated New York City muralist known for large-scale works that speak to community identity, athletic spirit, and urban resilience. Tim brings walls to life with imagery that stops people in their tracks and makes them feel seen.
Application Status
NYC DOT Art program — application pending. We are working with the City of New York to secure official wall permits, bringing these murals to high-visibility public spaces where athletes, students, and communities pass every day.
Each Mural Carries a Message
- 💪Resilience — every setback is a setup for a comeback
- ✨Hope — the court is open to everyone, always
- 🎨Creativity — sport and art as twin languages of self-expression
- 🔥Tenacity — the will to keep going when it gets hard
- 🏙️Neglected walls become permanent declarations: athletes belong everywhere
- ✏️Children from the community draw, add color, and write words into each mural alongside Tim
Support Both Causes Now
You don't have to wait for the event. Every donation today goes directly to gear for kids in Mozambique and paint for walls in New York.
100% of proceeds go to Mozambique gear donations and the NYC Mural Series
In Loving Memory
Who Was Stefani Lineva?
She was twenty. She stays twenty.
Chapter one
A shining tennis star
Stefani Lineva was a 20-year-old sophomore at Binghamton University and a shining tennis star whose passion for the sport — and for life — was truly contagious. She was a former National Player who dedicated herself to tennis from the earliest age, rising through the ranks with remarkable talent and determination.
Chapter two
Rising through the ranks
Stefani held the #1 ranking in the Eastern Section in the 10's and 12's age groups, and Top 3 in the Eastern Section in the 14's and 16's. She was ranked Top 20 Nationally in the 12's and 14's — and made history by becoming the youngest Women's Club Champion at the age of 13 at the historic West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, New York. She went on to become the Singles Northeast-10 Conference Champion in October 2016.
Chapter three
So much more than her trophies
But Stefani was so much more than her trophies. She had a deep, genuine love for children — volunteering at tennis camps and junior clinics, giving her time freely to young players who reminded her of herself. She had a gift for connecting with kids, making them feel seen, capable, and loved. Her dream was to become a child psychiatrist — to combine her love of young people with a mission to protect their mental health.
Chapter four
Her legacy lives on
Tragically, on December 3, 2016, Stefani lost her life in a hit-and-run accident. But her spirit endures — in every child who picks up a racket, every young person who finds the courage to ask for help, and every court where her name is spoken with love. Mental health support for young athletes is not an afterthought here — it is a core part of Stefani's legacy and a promise we carry forward in her name.
"StefanieForever20 — because her spirit lives on in every game, every child, and every dream she inspired."
On court — her record
#1
Eastern Section
10's & 12's age groups
Age 13
Youngest Women's Club Champion
West Side Tennis Club, Forest Hills
Top 20
Nationally
12's & 14's age groups
Top 3
Eastern Section
14's & 16's age groups
Champion
NE-10 Conference
Singles — October 2016
Her time was cut short. Her impact continues.
Changing Lives Through Tennis
StefanieForever20 Impact
The Stefani Forever Foundation awards full-ride scholarships to deserving young athletes, giving them the opportunity to pursue tennis and their dreams.
$2,000 Raised
Donated clothing and athletic apparel to youth in Mozambique.
Over $10,000
Raised through tennis-inspired T-shirt sales on Velvetosh Etsy, designed to empower young athletes.
Over $20,000
Contributed toward youth tennis clinics, tournaments, scholarships, and equipment donations.
Stefani's Legacy
Continuing Stefani's legacy by making tennis accessible to all.
Daniel Castro
Full Ride — Stefani Forever 20
December 16, 2022
Marvin Castro
Full Ride — Stefani Forever 20
December 16, 2022
Stefani & Novak Djokovic
Tennis runs in the family
The People Behind the Mission
Meet the Team
Daniela Atanassova
Founder
A Medical Doctor and Pediatrician with a passion for children's health, longevity, and mental wellness, Daniela founded the Stefaniforever20 Foundation to honor Stefani's memory and ensure that sport continues to heal and empower young lives around the world.
Daniel Linev
Co-Founder
A former national tennis player and future medical doctor, Daniel co-founded the foundation with a deep commitment to youth development, mental health, and making tennis accessible to all — carrying Stefani's spirit forward through every serve.
Jessica Livianu
Chair of the Foundation
A former competitive tennis champion, Jessica Livianu knows firsthand the discipline, heart, and joy the sport can bring. As Chair of the Stefaniforever20 Foundation, she channels that competitive spirit into strategic leadership — expanding the foundation's reach and ensuring Stefani's legacy of love, resilience, and tennis continues to uplift young lives around the world.
Our Mission
Free Coaching. Gear Donations. Global Impact.
Free Coaching & Gear
Free coaching at our tennis academy is available for youth empowerment through various tennis events. We also focus on sports psychology and sports nutrition to enhance performance. We welcome donation opportunities for clothes and tennis gear to support our programs.
Mental Health Support for Tennis Players
We believe a strong mind is just as important as a strong backhand. Our foundation provides mental wellness resources, sports psychology coaching, and a safe space for players to talk about the pressures of competition, identity, and life on and off the court.
Tennis for All — Love All
No racket? No problem. No court nearby? We'll find one. Tennis should never be gated by income, zip code, or background. We provide free gear, free coaching, and free access so every child who wants to play, can play. Tennis for All. Love All.
Events
Where We Show Up
Look for us at the tennis courts, shine or rain, at anytime, in any country.
Tennis For All Africa — Girls Tennis Give Back
Empowering young girls across Africa with free coaching, gear donations, and mental wellness support on and off the court.
Mission Trip to Honduras
Bringing free tennis coaching, gear, and community outreach to youth in Honduras as part of our global mission.
West Side Tennis Club — Lavender Ball
A beautiful community event at the historic West Side Tennis Club — bringing together youth, families, and supporters for a day of tennis, celebration, and giving in honor of Stefani's legacy. Date pending — stay tuned.
Free Coaching at Our Tennis Academy
Free coaching sessions for youth ages 10–16, offered throughout the year based on our event schedule. Availability varies — follow us on Instagram for the latest updates on upcoming sessions.
Mission Trip to Honduras — April 2022
Event Spotlight
West Side Tennis Club
Lavender Ball Tennis Event
We are working on confirming the next date for the Lavender Ball at the historic West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, New York. Follow us on Instagram to be the first to know.
Voices of Impact
What People Say About Us
From the Bronx to Mozambique, Honduras to Queens — Stefani's legacy lives on in every child who picks up a racket.
Before the foundation came to our community, my son had never held a tennis racket. Now he wakes up every morning asking to go to practice. This program gave him a dream — and the tools to chase it.
Maria Reyes
Parent — Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Growing up in the Bronx, tennis felt like a sport for other people — not for kids like us. Stefaniforever20 changed that. They showed up with rackets, coaches, and most importantly, belief in us. I'll never forget that.
James Carter
Scholar — The Bronx, New York
The foundation brought tennis equipment and joy to our village. The children had never seen a real tennis court, but they played with so much heart. Stefani's spirit was present in every smile on that court.
Kofi Mensah
Community Coach — Maputo, Mozambique
I knew Stefani personally — she was the kind of person who lit up every room. This foundation is everything she stood for. My daughter received a scholarship and it has opened doors we never thought possible.
Angela Torres
Tennis Parent — Queens, New York
Get involved
Ways to Help
There is more than one way to take part.
Donate Equipment & Clothing
The foundation collects tennis shoes, rackets, skirts, shorts, shirts, hats, visors, socks, bags and jump ropes.
Email the foundationVolunteer
Volunteers are welcome at events — and volunteer entry is free. Tell us how you would like to help.
Email the foundationSponsor an Event
Clubs, businesses and community partners can support a clinic, a tournament or a scholarship.
Email the foundation"Look for us at the tennis courts, shine or rain, at anytime, in any country."
Stefani Lineva · Forever 20
Gallery
Through the Lens of Giving
Tennis For All Africa — Girls Tennis Give Back Summer 2023