Emporia’s Pickleball Tournament: The Rotary Club of Emporia’s third annual pickleball tournament achieved new heights this year, drawing a record 17 teams and raising over $1,000 for Emporia State University’s Corky’s Cupboard food pantry. The event, held Saturday at Reeble Courts, showed the growing popularity of pickleball and the community’s commitment to supporting local causes.
Rotary Club President Rachael Correl noted that this year’s turnout marked the highest number of participating teams since the tournament’s inception.
“It was a lot of people who wanted to help support ESU’s Corky’s Cupboard. It’s really nice when the community wants to help an organization like that.” – (Correl)
The tournament’s focus on Corky’s Cupboard aligns with the Rotary Club’s mission to address local needs. The food pantry, which provides essential supplies to students and families in need, was chosen as this year’s beneficiary due to its ongoing struggle with supply shortages.
“When we started this back three years ago, coming off of COVID, we knew Corky’s Cupboard was struggling with their supply, so we felt that was a good organization to use.” – (Correl)
The decision to center the event around pickleball was a strategic one, capitalizing on the sport’s increasing popularity. “The Emporia Pickleball Club has been really great to work with,” Correl said, acknowledging their support in promoting the event to members and neighboring towns.
In addition to the tournament, the event featured a lemonade and bake sale fundraiser organized by Rotarians Duane and Jerilyn Henrikson and their grandchildren. This effort raised more than $100 for the food pantry. Correl highlighted the collective impact of these initiatives.
“With everyone’s donation, including pickleball fees and additional contributions, plus the lemonade sale, we made $1,000 for Corky’s Cupboard.” – (Correl)
Looking ahead, the Rotary Club is preparing for its next major fundraiser, the annual Grocery Grab, scheduled for the weekend before Thanksgiving. Tickets will be available in October, with the event set to take place at Goods Cash Saver.
News in Brief: Emporia’s Pickleball Tournament
The Rotary Club of Emporia’s third annual pickleball tournament saw a record 17 teams and raised over $1,000 for Emporia State University’s Corky’s Cupboard food pantry. Held at Reeble Courts, the event highlighted pickleball’s growing popularity and the community’s dedication to local causes.
Rotary Club President Rachael Correl praised the turnout and support for Corky’s Cupboard, chosen due to its ongoing supply issues. The event also featured a lemonade and bake sale, adding over $100 to the total funds. Looking ahead, the Rotary Club plans its next fundraiser, the Grocery Grab, before Thanksgiving.
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