USA Pickleball Serves Announces Essential Grants: USA Pickleball Serves, the charitable division of USA Pickleball (USAP), has officially announced the launch of the ‘Grow the Game’ grant program. Designed to support community organizations and schools across the United States, the initiative aims to help grow the sport of pickleball at the grassroots level.
Supporting Community Engagement and Youth Participation
Brenda Puga, Director of Community Relations at USA Pickleball, emphasized the importance of this program in encouraging youth and community members to engage with pickleball.
“USA Pickleball Serves ‘Grow the Game’ grant was developed to encourage and support community organizations and schools to offer pickleball programs. Encouraging community members and youth to pick up a paddle and benefit from instructional resources and engaging games developed by USA Pickleball is a step forward in our mission to grow the game.” – (Brenda Puga)
Grant Details and Available Equipment Bundles
The program provides schools and organizations the opportunity to apply for essential equipment bundles aimed at starting or expanding pickleball programs. The equipment packages include items such as paddles, balls, and portable nets, with several options available depending on the applicant’s specific needs. The available bundles are:
- Dink Bundle: 24 wooden paddles, 100 pickleballs, and one portable net.
- Drop Bundle: 48 wooden paddles, 100 pickleballs, and two portable nets.
- Drive Bundle: 72 wooden paddles, 200 pickleballs, and three portable nets.
- Campus Edition Bundle: 12 paddles, 100 pickleballs, and three portable nets; exclusively for colleges and universities.
Application Process and Key Deadlines
The grant program operates in two application rounds. Round 1 has already begun on November 14 and will close on December 12. Recipients for this round will be announced on January 16. Round 2 will open on July 8, closing on August 5, with winners revealed on September 9.
Applicants must be registered members of USAP at one of three membership levels. The program is open to schools and community organizations located in the United States or its territories, with a designated space for play at a public facility. The application must demonstrate a clear need for the equipment to either start or maintain a pickleball program.
USA Pickleball Serves’ Commitment to Growth
USA Pickleball Serves is committed to fostering inclusive play, supporting educational youth programming, and improving pickleball court access and quality across the nation. This new grant program is another step in USA Pickleball’s ongoing effort to make the sport more accessible and widespread.
News in Brief: USA Pickleball Serves Announces Essential Grants
USA Pickleball Serves has launched its ‘Grow the Game’ grant program to provide essential pickleball equipment to community organizations and schools. The program offers four equipment bundles designed to help start or expand pickleball programs.
Applications are open in two rounds, with the first round closing on December 12. Grant recipients will be announced in January 2024. Schools and organizations must be USAP members and demonstrate a need for equipment to be eligible.
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