Pickleball Magazine 4-5 WD | Page 48

5 th Annual PICKLEBALL FOR HEROES Our Veterans Honors O n Aug. 24 & 25, pickleball players and spectators came together at APEX Pickleball Courts in Arvada, CO, for the 5th Annual Pickleball for Heroes Tournament. Since 2014, the annual event has raised almost $300,000, all through volunteer efforts, for Operation TBI Freedom, a program at Craig Hospital in Colorado. The hospital specializes in traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries and caters to veterans. And, regardless of means, Craig’s policy is to never turn anyone away. So often veterans return from conflict with traumatic brain injuries that can make the transition to civilian life especially difficult. Operation TBI Freedom offers individualized, relationship-oriented case management with certified brain injury specialists. The staff provides veterans with crisis and suicide prevention counseling, emergency funding, employment and education assistance, mental and medical health referrals and support, outdoor recreation/therapy, adaptive equipment and a variety of psychosocial educational programming, including financial management and parenting classes. Co-founded by the beloved Pickleball Ken (Ken Marquardt), Pickleball for Heroes is unique in that 100 percent of all proceeds raised by the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization goes straight to Craig’s traumatic brain injury program for veterans. “We have an anonymous donor who takes care of any administrative fees, so all proceeds go to the heroes instead of toward administrative costs,” Marquardt says. “And I’m really proud of that because all of the money should go to the heroes, not administrative costs. It’s sincerely a privilege to be involved with this organization.” He adds, “This is a year-round endeavor for us and we raise funds through other means, not just pickleball. Our goal for this year is $1 million.” • PHOTOS BY DOUG SEITER AND MARY ANN HUNT 46 TO SUBSCRIBE CALL 888.308.3720 OR GO TO THEPICKLEBALLMAG.COM