Pickleball Palooza fundraiser: A pickleball fundraiser called Pickleball Palooza will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 24, at Corbett’s, 340 N. 6th Ave. This pickleball event will raise money for Tucson Values Teachers, a group that helps teachers in Southern Arizona. The fundraiser will include pickleball lessons, games, food, and live music.
Bringing the Community Together
Pickleball Palooza is a noncompetitive event open to everyone. Tucson Values Teachers planned the event to reach more people in the community. Danicka Allen, Director of Marketing and Communications for Tucson Values Teachers, said,
“We wanted to create an event for the public to participate in without feeling they are showing up to a standard nonprofit event. Since pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the country right now, we thought it would be a good opportunity to piggyback on that and get the public’s interest.”
CarePatrol, a business that helps families find care options for seniors, is hosting and leading the event. Maria Romero, co-owner of CarePatrol, said,
“We really wanted to support Tucson Values Teachers and get people to know who they are and what they do. At the same time, we get our name out there, so it is a win-win type of partnership.”
Maria Romero and Karina Felix, who own CarePatrol together, both used to work in technology support for elementary schools. They thought a pickleball event for all skill levels would be a great way to help local teachers. Romero said,
“We have a passion for working with teachers and understand their challenges. Karina was a teacher herself and we have seen what they go through on a daily basis with salaries and funding cuts and wanted to do something for them.”
Supporting Teachers in New Ways
Money raised from the event will go toward Tucson Values Teachers programs. It will also help fund Lumia, a new website that Tucson Values Teachers will launch early next year. This online platform will help teachers connect with others who teach the same grades and subjects. Danicka Allen said,
“This will give teachers opportunities to collaborate on lesson plans and best practices and provide other support so they don’t feel so isolated. One of the biggest challenges that teachers face, in addition to wages and burnout, is the feeling of isolation.”
The fundraiser is meant to help teachers feel connected and supported. People who attend can learn how to play pickleball or improve their skills. Allen said,
“We just want to get everyone out there to have fun.”
More Ways Tucson Values Teachers Helps
The event will also raise awareness about other programs, like Tucson Supplies Teachers. Last year, this program gave 250 teachers $100 gift cards to buy classroom supplies. Allen said,
“This is important because lots of times school districts aren’t able to provide teachers with the resources they need to fully fund supplies for their classrooms and, unfortunately, the funds often end up coming out of teachers’ pockets, which just compounds the wage disparity. Tucson Supplies Teachers tries to lessen this burden on teachers.”
Tucson Values Teachers also gives out a monthly Teacher’s Excellence Award during the school year. This award surprises a teacher with a $100 supplies gift card, a $250 check, and other gifts. Allen said,
“Sometimes teachers feel like they have a thankless job, and this gives them acknowledgement that people appreciate all they do.”
Event Details
Pickleball Palooza will take place at Corbett’s at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 24. Tickets cost $35 per person or $25 for teachers. The event will have pickleball lessons for beginners, food, drinks, and live music.
News in Brief: Pickleball Palooza fundraiser
Pickleball Palooza will be held July 24 at Corbett’s to raise funds for Tucson Values Teachers. The event offers pickleball lessons, food, and music. Proceeds will help teacher programs and the new Lumia platform. Tickets are $35, or $25 for teachers.
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