Community members are invited to join a fundraiser aimed at promoting youth wellness and preventing substance abuse through the sport of Pickleball.
The event, hosted by Prevent Together: Battle Ground Prevention Alliance, will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, at Chief Umtuch Middle School, 700 NW Ninth St., Battle Ground. Those who want to play have until Oct. 25 to register at preventtogetherbg.org/pickleballforprevention, or by contacting PreventTogetherBG@gmail.com. People who don’t want to play do not have to register. Entrance is free, and the cost to register for pickleball is $20. Players can be any skill level.
Founded 12 years ago, Prevent Together is a nonprofit organization made up of parents, educators, law enforcement personnel, health professionals and other community members. The alliance promotes youth wellness and substance abuse prevention through a variety of programs and community events. As one of its local events, Prevent Together hosts the annual National Night Out at Kiwanis Park, which raises awareness about safety and prevention strategies.
Jennifer Kirby, the executive director of Prevent Together, emphasized the organization’s mission to provide young people with the tools to live healthy, substance-free lives. She noted the non-profit makes an effort to educate parents.
“Sometimes parents [aren’t] really sure where to start the conversation. The trends around vaping and cannabis use and all of that, they change so fast, and parents just need to stay up to date on what's going on so that they're better educated to have the conversations with their kids about it,” Kirby said.
In 2014, the organization was awarded the prestigious Drug-Free Communities Grant by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). However, with the grant set to expire next year, this inaugural pickleball fundraiser will play a critical role in maintaining programs.
Proceeds from the event, including pickleball entrance sales and a silent auction, will benefit initiatives including the DREAM Team (Dedicated, Remarkable, Enlightened, Adolescent, Making a Difference), a middle-school student group focused on drug prevention. The DREAM Team has participated in both local and national training, has met with elected officials, and devised strategies to curb substance use among young people. In January, students visited Washington U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell in Washington, D.C., to discuss drug prevention efforts.
The fundraiser will support the DREAM Team and other similar programs currently active at Chief Umtuch, Pleasant Valley and Tukes Valley middle schools. The alliance aims to expand into all six middle schools in the Battle Ground area.
“We're also promoting positive mental health. We're helping to teach kids resiliency and healthy coping skills, how to make really good decisions and to stay positive,” Kirby said.
Pickleball, a fast-growing sport developed in Washington state, was chosen as the centerpiece of the event. Retired Battle Ground police chief Mike Fort volunteered his time to help the nonprofit’s volunteers understand the game ahead of the fundraiser.
"We’ve got the new pickleball courts that are coming in [at Kiwanis Park], and pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America right now,” Kirby explained. “There's a lot of interest in it.”
From 9 a.m. to noon, three pickleball clinics will be offered, with one offered each hour. In the afternoon, participants will compete in matches with randomly assigned partners and opponents. Teams will tally their scores, with prizes awarded to the top players.
A silent auction will also be held, featuring various items donated by community partners. One of the auction baskets includes a $180 gift certificate to Archery World in Battle Ground, while another includes a charcoal grill donated by Ace Hardware.
“We set the starting bid at roughly 50% of the item's value, so somebody could walk away with some great deals and even get their Christmas shopping done early,” Kirby noted.
For children, the event will include free activities to keep them entertained while their parents enjoy the fundraiser. The event will be Hawaiian-themed, adding a fun, relaxed atmosphere.
“We’re telling people we’re extending summer into October,” Kirby said. “It’s really meant to be a community event, bringing everyone together for a fun day.”
Learn more about Prevent Together at preventtogetherbg.org.
