MANCHESTER-BY-THE-SEA — The Win 4 All Pickleball Tournament will return for its second year on Saturday, Sept. 21 and Sunday, Sept. 22 following a kick-off event on Friday, Sept. 20.
Sponsored by TQM Wealth Partners, the fundraiser focuses on building a strong, empowered community by raising funds for Girls Inc. of Boston and Lynn.
“Girls Inc. of Lynn is an 83-year-old organization that helps girls be smart, strong, and bold, and helps them develop their full potential,” Girls Inc. Board member Marcel V Quiroga, the founder of the tournament, said. “And these are girls that are at risk of falling through the cracks, if you will, because they come from low-income families.”
As a pickleball player herself, Quiroga, who is from Marblehead, said she is aware of how much the sport can bring people together due to its accessibility, inclusivity, and popularity. She concluded that a pickleball tournament would be the perfect fundraiser to support Girls Inc., as it highlights many of the organization’s values.
“Last year, we held the first tournament, and this year, we’re bringing it back in full swing,” Quiroga said. “There’s a group of about 12 Marblehead women who volunteer to make this happen, and we are just focused on finding sponsors and getting people to register.”
Many of the volunteers have daughters, and Quiroga said they recognize that their children are growing up in a different environment than the girls in Girls Inc. She said they see this fundraiser as both a way to give back and to support girls who have not had the same chances.
“All children have a right to have a place of safety, but not all of them have the guidance that maybe our daughters have,” Quiroga said. “So we want other girls to have the same opportunities and we know that that makes for better communities.”
With this tournament, the volunteers are aiming to highlight Girls Inc. and draw attention to the organization as a whole. With an ambitious goal of $30,000, Quiroga not only hopes to raise a sufficient amount of money, but also to provide a memorable experience for participants.
“Not a lot of pickleball tournaments offer breakfast and lunch included in the registration,” Quiroga said. “So having fun is really important and doing it for a good cause, it’s magic.”
Quiroga said that all are invited to participate in and support the Win 4 All Pickleball Tournament at the Manchester Athletic Club. Those interested can visit pickleballbrackets.com and type “TQM” in the keywords section for more information on how to register, volunteer, and donate.
