On Nov 23, the Pickleball Club hosted its third annual Pickleball for Give-A-Thon tournament in the field house. The event raised over $420, all of which will support 13 children across two families during the holiday season. Sponsors and executive board members organized the event early on by coordinating with the school and putting up posters in order to help gain student attention, causing them to come out and compete.
Eli Sommerfield ’27, who started the tournament with his brother, Isaac Sommerfield, freshman year, helped organize this year’s tournament as well. He was pleased to welcome over 60 students participating and competing across divisions, ranging from beginner to advanced. Each student who participated paid a five-dollar entry fee that went towards the Give-A-Thon fundraiser, where Stevenson raises money to purchase gifts for underprivileged families in the area, with gifts scheduled to be finally wrapped and collected by Dec 2.
“I’m ecstatic that we were able to raise $420, and we’ll be able to cover all the holiday expenses for our children and families,” Sommerfield said. “I think it’s awesome to be able to provide gifts for kids this way.”
The tournament started with mini groups, in which each team played each other, then it moved into a single elimination bracket, allowing all participants to play at least five games.Sriniket Nuthalapati’27, a pickleball club member competing for his second year, appreciated how his values aligned with those of the tournament.
“I think it creates a friendly, competitive environment among the students, and is a fun way to get some physical activity in,” Nuthalapati said. “I also thought it would be a great way to contribute to the Give-A-Thon cause by doing what I love.”
According to records kept by Pickleball Club, participation in the event doubled on the final day, with registrations increasing from 30 to 60 within a day. Sommerfield believes that this increase in participation stems from the promotions they held, such as posters around school and Instagram posts, as the deadline approached.
“I think it just shows Stevenson’s strong sense of community and that they care about giving back to a good cause, because if it were just some random pickleball tournament, no one would have joined,” Sommerfield said. “But the fact that it’s Give-A-Thon, which is so well-known, we’re able to host a large number of players every year.”
During the tournament’s playoff round, students and teachers piled into the crowds gathering to watch the semifinal and championship matches. At the end, Stevenson’s National Honor Society executive board members won the final match, and despite the event’s competitive nature, some students reflected on its values.
“Even though there was a competitive nature during the tournament, I felt like everyone had the same goal to achieve,” Nuthalapti said. “Everyone wanted to help the children at the end of the day.”
Some students, like Nuthalapti, reflected on the experience and the physical and emotional opportunities it provided. Likewise, Sommerfield notes how there’s a bigger cause behind the event.
“With our efforts, I just hope we can help make the holidays feel a little brighter for every kid,” Sommerfield said. “If we can play even a small part in helping families get the gifts their kids are excited about, that means a lot to us.”