Pickleball Tournament for Ghanaian Children: The Paula Marshall Foundation hosted its annual “Pickleball with a Purpose” tournament Thursday night in Bixby, Oklahoma, raising funds to build schools and support over 1,000 children in Ghana. The doubles-style, round-robin event at Courts and Commons combines friendly competition with a mission to fight poverty and human trafficking through education.
Supporting Education Through Sport
Players from across Bixby hit the courts not just for fun but to help children in need. Funds from the tournament will go directly to school construction and student programs in Ghana. The foundation has already provided education to more than 1,000 children in the region.
A School for Vulnerable Girls
Paula Marshall, CEO of Bama Companies and founder of the foundation, said the latest school in Accra will open later this year across from areas where girls are at risk of being trafficked. She said,
“We built our first school this year that’s opening later this year in Accra that will be right across from where a lot of the girls are slave trafficked. And so we feel like if we can offer education with a biblical base, that the girls can learn hope, the boys can learn how to do a vocation, they can move themselves up in life.”
Faith and Vocational Training
The Paula Marshall Foundation partners with Maranatha Power Ministries to provide education, spiritual guidance, and vocational training. Schools are staffed with qualified educators and offer pathways to higher education and job opportunities, aiming to break cycles of poverty and empower students as future community leaders.
How to Get Involved
Community members can support the foundation year-round through fundraising events, donations, or raising awareness about its mission to help children in Ghana.
News in Brief: Pickleball Tournament for Ghanaian Children
Bixby’s Paula Marshall Foundation held “Pickleball with a Purpose” to raise funds for schools in Ghana. Over 1,000 children benefit from education programs aimed at reducing poverty and preventing human trafficking. The foundation partners with Maranatha Power Ministries to offer faith-based education and vocational training.
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