About Pickleball Gives Back
Pickleball Gives Back was founded on a simple idea:
What if we could combine the fun, excitement, and community spirit of pickleball with causes that truly matter?
Across the country, millions of people are discovering pickleball. At the same time, countless nonprofit organizations work tirelessly to address challenges such as Alzheimer's disease, cancer, veterans' services, youth development, education, hunger, and other important causes.
Pickleball Gives Back brings these worlds together.
Our role is to create well-organized fundraising events that allow players, sponsors, volunteers, venues, and nonprofit organizations to work together toward a common goal: making a positive impact in our communities.
We are not a charity. Instead, we partner with established nonprofit organizations and help create successful fundraising events that generate awareness, engagement, and financial support for their missions.
Every event is an opportunity to serve, connect, and give back.
Founder Story
Meet Mark Whalen
Mark Whalen is a lifelong technology and business systems leader who has spent his career helping organizations improve processes, solve problems, and achieve meaningful results.
Outside of his professional career, Mark developed a passion for pickleball and became deeply involved in the sport's growing community. Through participation in local events and community activities, he recognized the unique ability of pickleball to bring people together across generations and backgrounds.
Inspired by the connections and sense of community created through the sport, Mark founded Pickleball Gives Back, LLC with the vision of using pickleball as a platform to support charitable causes and strengthen local communities.
His goal is simple: create events that are fun, impactful, professionally organized, and capable of making a meaningful difference for nonprofit organizations and the people they serve.
Court-side community leads
We are players, organizers, and local advocates dedicated to making a tangible regional impact. You will find us managing brackets and presenting checks.
Founded on the courts
What started as a casual weekend bracket among neighbors quickly grew into a regional movement. We saw the immense social energy of pickleball and realized it was the perfect vehicle to fund local food security and youth sports.
Today, we coordinate seasonal leagues and corporate challenges across the state, ensuring every high-five coordinates with real, measurable local relief.