Tallahassee Pickleball Awareness Event: Tallahassee residents will gather this Sunday at Chaires Park for the “Pickle for Prevention: Paint the Courts Blue” tournament. Organized by Brie Southall and Melissa Helphrey, the event raises awareness for National Child Abuse Prevention Month and supports youth transitioning out of foster care.
Community Serves for a Cause
The pickleball tournament is expected to draw 30 to 40 teams, with about 50 to 60 people participating. So far, the event has raised approximately $1,500, which will benefit a local young adult who recently aged out of the foster care system.
Organizers Southall and Helphrey are passionate pickleball players who saw the tournament as a way to bring people together around an important issue.
“I think it’s important for our community to get as much prevention as possible, get ahead of some community awareness.” – (Southall)
Bringing Awareness Through Sport
The event begins at noon on Sunday at Chaires Park in Northeast Tallahassee. The goal is not just to raise funds but also to bring greater visibility to child abuse prevention efforts in the area.
“The pickleball community and the Tallahassee community is really coming together to support a great cause, and we’re so, so thankful for it.” – (Helphrey)
Participants are encouraged to wear blue, the color symbolizing child abuse prevention, to show their support during matches.
Hopes to Make It an Annual Tradition
This marks the first “Pickle for Prevention” tournament, but organizers hope it becomes an annual tradition. With strong local interest and support, they aim to continue using pickleball as a platform for advocacy and change in the community.
News in Brief: Tallahassee Pickleball Awareness Event
Tallahassee hosts the “Pickle for Prevention: Paint the Courts Blue” tournament on Sunday at Chaires Park to raise awareness for Child Abuse Prevention Month. Organized by Brie Southall and Melissa Helphrey, the event has raised $1,500 so far to support a local youth recently out of foster care.
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