Community Comes Together for Pickling for Wishes Pickleball Tournament to Benefit Make-A-Wish
Panama City Residents Play Pickleball to Make Children’s Wishes Come True
Panama City residents came together on Friday to play pickleball and support a great cause – making children’s wishes come true. Midnight Sun Pickleball Panama City organized the Pickling for Wishes Pickleball Tournament at Papa Joe’s Bayside, with all proceeds going to Make-A-Wish Central and Northern Florida.
The tournament’s Pickleball Director, Jill Lutz, expressed her excitement about combining the community’s love for the sport with helping children in need. Make-A-Wish is known for creating life-changing experiences for children with critical illnesses, and all registration fees from the tournament will directly benefit kids in the Northwest region of Florida.
Director of Development for Make-A-Wish Northwest Florida, Kathleen Hampton, shared how important it is to bring joy and hope to children facing difficult circumstances. The tournament raised over $7,000, with additional donations from generous supporters.
One family that has directly benefited from Make-A-Wish is the Leynes family, whose daughter was hospitalized for months at a young age. Kristen Leynes recalled the special trip to Disney World that Make-A-Wish made possible for her daughter, fulfilling her biggest wish.
Make-A-Wish’s Director of Development mentioned plans to continue hosting similar events in other cities in Northwest Florida, such as Destin and Pensacola, to keep making children’s dreams a reality through the power of pickleball.
The community’s support and generosity have made a significant impact on the lives of these children, bringing hope and happiness during challenging times.
