SSF to host inaugural pickleball fundraiser
Registration is open for an upcoming island tourney and clinic to benefit The Sanibel School.
The Sanibel School Fund (SSF) will present its first-ever Pickleball Round Robin on Jan. 31 at the Sundial Beach Resort & Spa on Sanibel, with check in for adults and youths beginning at 2 p.m.
“It is the Sanibel School Fund’s inaugural pickleball fundraiser,” SSF President Dorothy Plumb said.
The reason for the event is two-fold, with the first being to raise funding for the island school. More specifically, the proceeds will help the SSF expand the growing environmental studies program.
“But the other reason is that the pickleball fundraiser is another opportunity to engage the islands’ communities,” she said. “So they can understand the important work we do for the school and how the community’s involvement is vital to the process.”
As for the school’s environmental studies program, the goal is to make it a differentiator among elementary and middle schools within the School District of Lee County. Plumb explained that part of growing it will entail more collaborations with the community, like nonprofits, clubs and more.
“This means field trips for our students. It also involves guest teachers — dissections taking place in the classrooms with the Sanibel Sea School,” she said, citing a recent oyster restoration that the students took part in with an island civic club.
“One of our main focuses is to continue building those strong community relationships,” Plumb added.
Previously, the SSF established the STEAM — Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math — program at the school, and it continues to support it by covering 100% of those teacher salaries.
For the inaugural fundraiser, adults will compete in the round robin.
Single and paired players of all levels are welcome.
“There’ll be prizes for the first and second place winners,” she said.
Plumb added that the school’s STEAM students recently designed options for the possible winner trophies. Two will be selected from the designs, then 3D printed to be awarded to the winners.
Youths entered will take part in a pickleball clinic.
“The kids will work with Sundial racket professionals to learn how to play,” she said, noting that while it will be an introduction, it will also give experienced players the chance to practice with their peers.
Following the event, registered adults and youths will enjoy a post pickleball pool and picnic.
“There will be a picnic on the pool deck, a boxed picnic and beverages,” Plumb said.
“And we’ll have the informal championship ceremony,” she added.
The entry fee is $100 for adults and $50 for youths. Along with the event and post-event activities, it comes with full-day access to the resort and its amenities, including the beach, bikes, spa and more.
The public is encouraged to sign up and take part.
“We would love to engage our community in understanding more of what the Sanibel School Fund does, how important we are to the school and, equally, how important our community is to us,” Plumb said.
“The pickleball fundraiser for both adults and children is a way for us to meet more of our community and for them to meet us, while engaging in fun for the day at the Sundial,” she added.
To register, visit https://sanibelschoolfund.org/.
For more information, contact thesanibelschoolfund@gmail.com.
Sponsorships opportunities are still available. For more information, email the SSF.
The Sundial Beach Resort & Spa is at 1451 Middle Gulf Drive, Sanibel.
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IF YOU GO
What
Pickleball Round Robin
Who
Sanibel School Fund
When
Jan. 31 at 2 p.m.
Where
Sundial Beach Resort & Spa, 1451 Middle Gulf Drive, Sanibel
Details
Entry is $100 for adults and $50 for youths
To reach TIFFANY REPECKI / trepecki@breezenewspapers.com, please email