Make-A-Wish^® Central and Northern Florida

Jacksonville, FL — June 8, 2024 —Make-A-Wish® Central and Northern Florida, in partnership with Thigpen Heating & Cooling, hosted its first-ever Pickleball 4 Wishes Tournament on Saturday, June 8th, at The Yards, an entertainment venue in the iconic Sawgrass Players Club. This inaugural pickleball tournament united the community and raised a spectacular $12,000. 

The Pickleball 4 Wishes Tournament was put together to hold an exciting community event and raise funds to help grant life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses in the region. The $12,000 will go directly to fulfilling the opportunities. 

Attendees were invited to enjoy refreshments provided by Drink SMART Jax and enter a raffle for prizes. Each guest received a special t-shirt and a set of Make-A-Wish pickleball paddles as commemorative gifts. More than 20 teams registered to participate, each playing four games in a single-elimination format. Trophy sponsor Exigo Sales presented the two victors with their awards. 

Wishes are transformative for children with critical illnesses, serving as beacons of hope. In addition to improving the well-being of children and treatment outcomes, wishes also provide unforgettable experiences to children and their families, helping them cope during difficult times. 

Pickleball 4 Wishes would not be possible without the support of sponsors. The event had 12 court sponsors in addition to the trophy sponsor and the title sponsor, Thigpen Heating & Cooling, Inc. The tournament's success is also thanks to the generosity of donors, volunteers, and attendees who helped the exciting event exceed expectations while supporting the mission of Make-A-Wish Central and Northern Florida. 

To learn more about how you can support Make-A-Wish Central and Northern Florida or to donate, visit wish.org/cnfl. Your contribution can help create life-changing wishes for children in need. 

Link to photos from the event. 

About Make-A-Wish Central and Northern Florida:

Make-A-Wish® Central and Northern Florida creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. We seek to bring every eligible child's wish to life because every child deserves a childhood. Research shows children who have wishes granted can build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight their illness. Together with generous donors, supporters, staff and more than 24,000 volunteers across the nation, Make-A-Wish Central and Northern Florida and 57 other chapters throughout the U.S. have granted more than 360,000 wishes nationwide. For more information about Make-A-Wish Central and Northern Florida, visit wish.org/cnfl