Smashing Hunger Pickleball Tournament Exceeds Fundraising Goal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 10, 2025

McKinney, TX – March 10, 2025 – The Smashing Hunger Pickleball Tournament wasn’t just about aces and rallies—it was about serving up hope, meals, and community support! Held at The Courts of McKinney, this exciting event surpassed its fundraising goal. Every dollar raised will help Community Garden Kitchen continue its mission of providing free, nutritious meals to those in need.

An Action-Packed Day on the Courts!

Presented by Benchmark Bank, the tournament welcomed pickleball lovers of all skill levels. Players competed in social and competitive brackets, making it a fun experience for everyone.

One of the biggest highlights? An electrifying exhibition match featuring Olympian Johnny Quinn and professional pickleball player Cole Whitaker. In addition to watching these two in action, tournament participants had the rare opportunity to return a serve from an Olympian in a special challenge sponsored by Pool Scouts. Watch the action here: Watch the exhibition match!

More Than Just a Game – Why We Play

Since opening in 2022, Community Garden Kitchen has served over 85,000 meals. The organization has also distributed 86 tons of food to local pantries. By participating in this tournament, players, sponsors, and spectators helped fight hunger in North Texas. Every pickleball point made a difference!

Tournament Highlights

🏆 Competitive & Social Brackets – Whether beginners or seasoned players, everyone had fun!
🎟 Raffles & Swag Bags – Exciting prizes and giveaways from generous sponsors.
🍽 Lunch & Snacks – Jersey Mike’s Subs provided fresh sandwiches. Texas Property Sisters donated delicious fruit baskets. TruLabs kept players hydrated. PJ’s Coffee kept energy levels high with great coffee!
🩺 Injury Prevention & Performance Support – Pure Motion Chiropractic was on-site. They helped players improve mobility and stay injury-free.

A HUGE THANK YOU to Our Sponsors & Community Partners!

This event would not have been possible without our amazing sponsors. Check out our sponsor graphic below to see the businesses that helped us smash hunger!

Sponsor logos for Smashing Hunger Pickleball Tournament benefiting Community Garden Kitchen.

Additionally, many community businesses contributed fantastic prizes for our raffle baskets. Their generosity added even more excitement and raised additional funds for Community Garden Kitchen. A heartfelt thank you to every business and individual who donated!