21 Feb Darren and Jackie McGilbray’s love of tennis, philanthropy inspires Wichita community
February is Black History Month and USTA Kansas is excited to share stories about members who have made an impact on the tennis community, such as the McGilbray family.
Darren and Jackie McGilbray’s love of tennis can be felt throughout Wichita; so can their philanthropy and care for their community. The husband-and-wife team have found ways to give back that benefit people of all ages and walks of life, oftentimes inspiring those who might not otherwise give tennis a try.
Originally from Wichita, the McGilbrays are active in their community. Jackie runs a boutique, Jewel Angels, and Darren is president of a Popeyes restaurant. Both have shared the fruits of their labor by either fundraising or donating food to church and tennis events.
In speaking with the McGilbrays, it’s clear they share an enthusiastic love of tennis, community and each other.
“I traveled everywhere with him teaching lessons as well as when Charles Doughty took over the tennis program at McAdams. I’ve always worked with my dad, Maloney and Doughty teaching tennis. We’d then travel the whole country playing in ATA (American Tennis Association) tournaments.”
Darren played No. 1 singles for Heights High School before becoming an integral player on the Butler Community College tennis team.
“We went to nationals for the first time in school history,” Darren said. “It’s where I taught my wife.”
“I was at Butler Community College on a volleyball scholarship,” Jackie said. “Darren taught me how to play tennis, and I’ve been playing ever since.”
While in tennis love means nothing, for the McGilbrays it means everything. The couple married and moved to Houston for a time, and they teamed up to become formidable in mixed doubles and husband-wife tournaments.
“We went on to win an ATA championship in singles and doubles, and a team championship in Houston,” Jackie said.
Darren added: “We went on to play as a husband-and-wife team and won the LeMaster tournament in Houston several times before moving back to Wichita.”
McGilbrays Give Back
The McGilbrays’ philanthropy isn’t limited to the Wichita community. While in Houston, they donated racquets to children and volunteered for former WTA pros Lori McNeil and Zina Garrison’s youth tennis programs. However, Wichita was always home, and the duo continued to give back in their beloved hometown after their return.
“We love tennis and have always been supportive of all the programs,” said Darren, also noting his and Jackie’s support of Alex Lee’s community tennis programs at McAdams Park in Wichita.
Now members of the Wichita Community Tennis Board, the McGilbrays’ presence at the annual Wichita Tennis Open, which draws rising pro players to Wichita State University each summer, means both food and fashion for attendees of all ages. Popeyes provides food for the children attending the USTA-hosted Kids’ Day, and Popeyes and Jewel Angels help sponsor the event.
“Popeyes has been very good at supporting tennis events,” Darren said. “That whole effort between Popeyes and serving the community, I have to give them props for the work they do in the community.”
Jewel Angels boutique opened in 2020 as the Covid pandemic was ramping up. During that time in-person shopping had slowed down, so the McGilbrays needed to reach shoppers in a different way.
They began hosting “Fashion Forward Tuesday” on a local Wichita news affiliate each week, where viewers would learn more about the boutique and its offerings, and the business has since taken off. The boutique, which sells men’s and women’s clothing and accessories—as well as the latest tennis apparel—became a Wichita staple.
The boutique now hosts “Fashion Friday” on Facebook Live each week, where Jackie and local models show all the latest arrivals. Darren even wrote the catchy theme song for the event, which also plays on the Power 93.5 radio station regularly.
Jackie has used the success of Jewel Angels for good, hosting tennis fashion shows with charitable organizations and special pop-up shopping events during tennis events throughout the year.
We did a fashion show with Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation at the Wichita Tennis Open and featured a lot of local high school players,” Jackie said. “The connection with tennis is magic because everybody, when we play tournaments, they want us to set up both women and men, and they definitely get their tennis gear.”
Tennis isn’t the only community on the receiving end of the McGilbrays’ philanthropy. They’re also active in their church and its youth programming.
“We just have a connection with youth; it seems like they’re always flocking to us,” Jackie said. “We’ve been over the youth programming at our church, and it brings us joy to be around the young kids.”
Family Passion for Tennis
Darren takes every opportunity he can to play tennis.
“I love tennis. A lot of the guys I grew up playing tennis with, we still play,” he said. “I kind of live and breathe tennis; I just love tennis. If somebody’s hitting a tennis ball I love to see it, especially when someone’s learning for the first time and you help them.”
Darren’s father, Delvin McGilbray, also plays tennis, recently competing in last year’s Kansas Senior Games.
“He plays the 80s division now, and he started in his 30s,” Darren said. “He still strings racquets, and he’s been stringing my racquet since I was 8. He’s the only one I trust with my racquet.
“I try to play as much as I can. We play competitively, and we have a lot of fun doing it. I’m also committed to trying to get my wife out there, too. I try to encourage her even though she’s so busy. I always try to get out there on the court as much as possible.”
While her work running Jewel Angels and efforts in the community keep her plenty busy, Jackie echoed Darren’s affinity for the sport.
“We love tennis,” she said. “We love the game.”
