Over the past year, the Southern Pickleball Academy has developed, piloted, and managed six sessions of our groundbreaking program, First Paddle. Over 150 youth have received expert instruction in pickleball, but even more importantly, have benefited from the valuable life skills that are integrated into each lesson. First Paddle transforms lives through pickleball, fostering character traits such as respect, perseverance, and sportsmanship.

 

We are poised to expand First Paddle to youth in Aiken and Edgefield Counties and beyond, regardless of their family's financial situations. Through partnerships we have developed with the Salvation Army and other area nonprofits, we will run five programs of First Paddle, spring-boarding off the infrastructure of these organizations to allow children to participate who would otherwise not be able to. The Southern Pickleball Academy's First Paddle program is building a bridge toward a healthy future for the youth in our area, through professional pickleball instruction paired with a curriculum of real world skilled based on core values. 

 

Your generosity ensures we can continue expanding this vital program and introducing more youth to the transformative power of pickleball. Every dollar you contribute helps us purchase equipment, provide scholarships, hire qualified professionals, develop the next generation of players, and most importantly, help our children grow into confident, respectful, and resilient individuals. Thank you!