“Pickleball for our adaptive athletes, along side and assisted by their neighborhood “Buddies” witnessing what they can accomplish, is impacting lives and Empowering attitudes of Acceptance long after today.”

“One of the most meaningful outcomes of our pickleball program has been its ability to connect students who may not traditionally participate in school athletics…Many students who initially came just to watch eventually became active participants and some emerged as leaders within the club.”

“Neighbors are connecting with neighbors, new friendships are being formed, and social connections that extend beyond the game are happening!”

“The grant removed barriers to participation and created new opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities to build confidence, improve their health, and experience the joy of competition and inclusion.” 

“Our program has become much more than an after-school club. It’s a place where students build confidence, develop friendships, stay active, and learn valuable life skills like teamwork, communication, and perseverance. We’ve seen students who were hesitant to join school activities find a sense of belonging through pickleball, and we’ve watched experienced players step up as leaders and mentors.”

“We went from about 10-15 kids knowing the game to now over 300 kids know of pickleball.”