Playing Pickleball and Saving Lives: Sporting Change

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]By Brenden Nickels, Senior Office Assistant 

Pickleball, a variant of tennis in a way, is developing a massive following all across the country, and Kraus-Anderson recently leveraged this trend with its Sporting Change fundraiser. 

In 2015, Kraus-Anderson formed the KA Community Foundation to host events intended to help out the local community. In the past, this foundation has hosted the Walleye Classic in Bemidji, as well as the Bike Duluth Festival in Duluth, but this is the first time that the foundation has held an event in the Twin Cities. I spoke with Kraus-Anderson’s Community and Corporate Engagement Coordinator, Nicole Malone, about the event.

Why was pickleball chosen as the first Minneapolis event, and who came up with the idea?   

Malone: There were several conversations last year among the KA Community Foundation Board of Directors and my predecessor, Megan Hannon, about what to support, and eventually the consensus was that the event should be centered around either mental health or education to align closely with KA’s values and charitable interests. We selected pickleball because it’s an up-and-coming activity with broad appeal, and it’s different from your typical fundraiser.  

Why did you select the LIVIN Foundation as your partner charity for this event? 

Malone: At KA, we recognize how critical it is to address mental health challenges, especially within the construction industry, which has one of the highest rates of suicide. For this reason, the Kraus-Anderson Community Foundation decided to launch Sporting Change, a pickleball fundraiser for suicide prevention.  The board identified several nonprofits that address this critical issue and eventually voted to support the LIVIN Foundation, a local nonprofit whose mission is to prevent suicide by creating quality connections through everyday conversations about mental health. The money raised will be used to support the organization’s grant program which provides individuals and families with assistance when experiencing mental health challenges or when they experienced a loss by suicide. 

What was your favorite part of the event? 

 Malone: I started this position 3 months before the event date, so I can honestly say diving in and planning so many elements—from the tournament aspects (I learned so much about the wonders of pickleball!) to working on all the details—was a great way to meet people and learn more about the culture at KA. That was probably my favorite part, seeing the company’s core values and community building in action while building new relationships with team members and the wonderful people at LIVIN Foundation who are so passionate about this shared mission. 

Are there any other plans to hold events like this in the future, and if so, when will they be? 

Malone: Great question! We are currently in the thick of event wrap-up, tallying our totals, thanking our amazing sponsors and guests, etc., but I would not be surprised if there was a 2.0 Pickleball event—or perhaps something entirely new next year. It’s too soon to tell, but what we can confirm is that the KACF will continue its mission to support events and activities that support communities and important causes in which the Kraus-Anderson Family of Companies resides.

A Word from the LIVIN Foundation:

“By Kraus-Anderson selecting the LIVIN Foundation as the beneficiary of the Sporting Change Pickleball Fundraiser, this will be a game-changer for us,” said LIVIN Foundation Executive Director Kaitlin Daeges. “Up until this point, we have only been able to approve 5% of the community grant requests that come to us. With the support from Kraus-Anderson, we will be able to increase the amount of financial assistance we give our communities, ultimately providing more help, hope, and hugs to the people who truly need it. When faced with mental health challenges, this financial gift is life-changing for many. We truly believe we can’t change the past, but TOGETHER we can affect the future.” [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_images_carousel images=”34062,34063,34072,34067,34075,34073,34071,34069,34070,34064″ img_size=”full” autoplay=”yes” css=””][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]