Pickleball for a cause: Altadena fire recovery, Missouri's Pink Paddle Open and Charlottesville's Big Serve

Pickleball tournaments are often used as fundraisers. Three recent events in the United States show how clubs and local officials use a day of matches to raise money or attention for a cause: an Assemblymember's tournament for Altadena fire recovery, a third annual Pink Paddle Open in Missouri, and a mentoring organization's Big Serve in Virginia.

Altadena: a tournament for fire recovery

Assemblymember John Harabedian's office said his first district pickleball tournament raised money for Altadena's long-term recovery from the Eaton Fire, with all proceeds intended for the Altadena Builds Back Foundation, according to Pasadena Now. The office announced the fundraiser on Monday, October 19, 2026, but did not report the amount raised.

Local leaders, organizations and community members took part. La Canada Flintridge Mayor Jeanne Kim Hobson and her team won the event's first championship belt. Harabedian said in a statement that Altadena still has a long road to recovery and that families are still trying to rebuild their homes and lives. He said he hopes to make the tournament an annual event supporting local nonprofits.

The beneficiary, Altadena Builds Back Foundation, is a supporting organization of the Pasadena Community Foundation. Pasadena Now says its work centers on rebuilding residential Altadena, helping fire survivors remain in the community and protecting housing affordability for renters as well as homeowners. The foundation says its grants go to nonprofit organizations rather than directly to individuals.

The report lists the foundation's recent commitments: a $4.55 million grant for San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity to rebuild 22 homes in West Altadena, $5.83 million toward a Beacon Housing project to restore 14 units of affordable rental housing, and a $350,000 grant in September to Greenline Housing Foundation for homes for first-time buyers on fire-affected lots. Harabedian's announcement did not identify which project would receive the tournament proceeds, and the amount raised was not stated, so readers should not assume a figure.

Republic, Missouri: the Pink Paddle Open

KY3 reported on the first day of the third annual Pink Paddle Open on Saturday, October 17, hosted by Ozarks Pickleball Club and Republic Parks and Rec. The tournament is a yearly fundraiser for the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks. The station noted that a chilly Saturday did not keep the paddles from flying.

Matt Battaglia of Ozarks Pickleball Club said October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and there are many activities to plug into, and that pickleball is another avenue that speaks to the community. He said the players who play every day and every week are looking for ways to support causes that mean a lot to them. Nearly 200 players registered this year. The report does not say how much was raised.

Charlottesville: Big Serve supports youth mentoring

CBS19 reported that Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Blue Ridge held its third annual Big Serve pickleball tournament on Saturday morning. The group uses the sport to support its mission of connecting young people with mentors. A board chair and longtime Big Brother described the mission as empowering youth and igniting the potential that comes with mentorship.

The report says that more than 70 children are waiting to be matched with a mentor and that there is a large need for volunteers. It describes a pairing that began when the younger participant was six years old and has lasted 11 years, with him now an 18-year-old high school senior. Like the other two stories, it does not give a fundraising total.

What the three events have in common

Each event is a repeat or is meant to be. The Missouri event is in its third year, the Virginia event is in its third year, and the California Assemblymember hopes to turn his first tournament into an annual one. A recurring tournament gives a cause a predictable date and gives clubs a ready crowd.

They also show how the pickleball community gets organized. In Missouri, a private club and a city parks department co-hosted. In Virginia, a nonprofit used the game to recruit mentors. In California, an elected official used it to raise money for a housing foundation. None of the reports includes amounts raised, so none of the events can be compared on dollars. What the reports do show is participation: nearly 200 players in Missouri, a field of local leaders in California, and an ongoing need for volunteers in Virginia.

For clubs thinking about their own fundraiser, the sources suggest a simple model: tie the event to a cause people already care about, run it at the same time each year, and say clearly where the money will go. The Altadena report is a useful example of a gap to avoid, since the announcement named the foundation but not the amount or the project. Publishing the total afterward lets players and sponsors see what their entry fees did, and it makes next year's event easier to fill.

Sources

• Pasadena Now - Harabedian Says Pickleball Tournament Raised Funds for Altadena Fire Recovery
• KY3 - Pickleball tournament in Republic, Mo., raises money for breast cancer research
• CBS19 News - Big Brothers Big Sisters pickleball tournament supports youth mentorship in Charlottesville

Sources checked 20 Oct 2026. Header image is illustrative, not a photo of the events described.