Pickleball players are seen at the courts at Marshall Field in Vernon in this undated photo.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED / Vernon Pickleball Association
June 17, 2020 - 3:21 PM
The Vernon Pickleball Association has managed to raise over $1-million in just three weeks.
The pickleball club launched the Raise the Roof fundraiser appeal to its members via a virtual Zoom meeting May 22. The club's passionate members rallied and somewhat miraculously raised over $1-million in a mere three weeks.
"The goal of raising $1.2 million dollars in a short time frame seemed impossible, but with three investment and donation options presented to members for the future of pickleball in Vernon, an astonishing $1,001,843 has already been pledged," Vernon Pickleball Association resident said Rob Irving said in a media release.
According to the association, the money will go towards buildings a roof over the club's 12 purpose built pickleball courts. The courts were built at Marshall Field and completed in August 2018 at the cost of $745,000. The club raised over $100,000 towards the courts with the rest of the cash being provided by a grant from the Regional District of North Okanagan and a loan from the City of Vernon.
The second stage of the project is to build a roof over the courts, so the pickleballers can play their beloved sport all year round.
The club says once complete, the Okanagan Wealth Advisors Pickleball Complex will "easily become" a tournament hub for pickleball. The club is optimistic the roof may be able to be completed by the end of the year.
In addition to the money already raised the club has launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise $50,000.
For more information about the Vernon Pickleball Association and the Raise the Roof appeal go here.
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