BRADENTON, Fla. — The Play For Life Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to introducing the sport of pickleball to youth, veterans and first responders, donated its 31st Club-N-Box portable pickleball set to the Bradenton Police Department on National First Responders Day last week. The granted Club-N-Box contains nets, paddles, balls, and instructional material on how to play, and set up a court.
“We are very appreciative of Play For Life’s donation, and plan to use the Club in a Box for community outreach programs throughout the year, as well as for fun team building and physical training activities for our Officers and Bradenton Police Explorers Post No.1004,” said Bradenton Police Department Assistant Chief Joe Wiesman.
Play For Life has donated and delivered portable pickleball sets to numerous locations throughout Sarasota and Manatee counties, including multiple fire stations, schools and other non-profit organizations like Girls Inc. of Sarasota County and many chapters of the Boys and Girls Club. The full recipient list can be found on the organization’s website.
“My husband Brian and I started the Play For Life Foundation, to give back to our community, addressing the need to improve healthy lifestyles with a fun sport that can be enjoyed by all ages,” said Valerie McCarthy, executive director of the non-profit organization. “We hope these donated sets will not only provide athletic enjoyment for the Bradenton Police Department, but also be a way for officers to relieve stress and stay fit. It’s our way of saying thank you to those who protect and serve our community.”
The Play for Life Foundation’s founding sponsor was The Pickleball Club of Lakewood Ranch (TPC), a premier, world-class, indoor pickleball facility and private membership club opening in Sarasota/Lakewood Ranch in January 2023.
The Pickleball Club provides a private experience for members with outstanding amenities and opportunities for social and recreational enjoyment in an air-conditioned state-of-the-art sports facility.
About The Play For Life foundation
The Play for Life Foundation began in 2021 with a single vision: To improve the mental and physical health of the most at risk in our community, by living a more active and healthier lifestyle through the sport of Pickleball. The foundation serves youth, veterans, and first responders. Each qualified organization is granted a Club-N-Box, containing nets, paddles, balls, and instructional material on how to play and setup a court. For more information, go to www.p4life.org.
About The Pickleball Club
Located at 1300 Sarasota Center Blvd., The Pickleball Club will be a brand-new, healthy living, private pickleball complex featuring 12 indoor pickleball courts with a tournament-level outdoor surface, an outdoor activity center, constantly rotating “Food Truck Alley”, Pickles Café, Dink’s Pro Shop, permanent nets, and HEPA filtered air-conditioned environment – perfect for avoiding those harmful UV rays and inclement weather conditions. The Club will feature PlaySight video technology for live streaming and recording capabilities for training purposes, tournament grade pickleball courts and luxurious locker rooms. The first club in Lakewood Ranch is currently under construction with an expected opening in January 2023, four more are in development in Port Saint Lucie, Fort Myers, and Bonita Springs, and the Villages with 15 clubs planned across the state of Florida in the next five years. For more information, go to ThePickleballClub.us.
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[Photo 1 attached from left to right: Sergeant Aaron Pilant, Officer Josh Sanchez, Officer Zachary Butterfield, Assistant Chief Joe Wiesman, Bradenton Police Department]
For more information, please contact:
Candice Brown-McElyea
Candice@oneeightohpr.com
941-232-9046