For Hudson Bonetti, a soon-to-be Delbarton School of Morristown graduate, it all started with a middle school class trip to P.G. Chambers School in Hanover and playing Candy Land.
“It was a field trip to a school for disabled children, and we played games. It was the first time I got the chance to interact with kids who were disabled, and it immediately became my passion,” Hudson said. “I realized that even though they might not be able to express themselves the same way, just seeing them smile means I know they are happy, and I know, at the very least, I am bringing joy to their day. I just wanted to do more of that.”
And Hudson has. He brought the ACEing Autism program, which, according to its website, is “a volunteer-driven non-profit organization dedicated to helping children with autism grow through the sport of tennis,” to Delbarton. The school’s program has earned membership in the ACEing Autism Honor Roll Program. It is run by the Bonetti family, named the United States Tennis Association Eastern Family of the Year in 2024.
Hudson; his brother, Brayden, a freshman at Delbarton, which is run by the Benedictine community; their mom, Kirstyn, a former high school first singles tennis player; and their grandfather, Robert Perkins, a former professional tennis player, direct the program. Their father, Jim, assists with twice-a-year clinics.
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The Bonetti brothers were altar servers and are now lectors at the Church of Christ the King in the New Vernon neighborhood of Harding Township.
As a Delbarton freshman, Hudson first participated in ACEing Autism at Orange Lawn Tennis Club in South Orange. He then approached Matthew White, Delbarton’s mission and ministry director; Dr. Tony Negrin, the current athletics director; and John Thompson, his tennis coach, about bringing the program to their school. The six-week sessions take place in the spring and fall at the Delbarton North Tennis Courts.
Volunteers arrive and are paired with different children. The key component is service to others. Attendees are educated in the art of the forehand and volley and footwork like shuffling and other techniques.
Yet ACEing Autism transcends the sport itself.
“We make sure that we know each child on a personal level before they learn anything about tennis,” Brayden said, “We understand what they like, what they do not like, and how they communicate. We ensure that we are ready for that to adapt to each person’s needs.”
White said, “ACEing Autism has been such a blessing to the Delbarton community. Seeing our students get involved has been great, and the Bonetti Family has done a wonderful job running the ACEing Autism program at Delbarton. The impact that it has had on our community has gone further than my words can explain. I am grateful for all that they have done.”
Click here for more information about the ACEing Autism program at Delbarton.
