Cashmere Rotary serves up fun and philanthropy with Founders' Day Pickleball Tournament

CASHMERE - The Cashmere Rotary Club is putting a new spin on its traditional Founders' Day fundraising efforts by hosting a Round Robin pickleball tournament aimed at bringing the community together during the local holiday weekend.

Mark Shorb, President of Cashmere Rotary, said the club wanted to introduce a fresh, family-friendly event to showcase the organization's work in the community. "Pickleball is great, a nice way to introduce people to what rotary does," Shorb explained.

The tournament, to be held at the Cashmere School District tennis courts, is open to participants of all skill levels and age groups, with a focus on fun and community-building. In an effort to encourage participation, the registration fee has been set at $30.

Shorb emphasized that the registration fees and funds raised by the Rotary Club directly support local initiatives, such as scholarships for Cashmere High School graduating seniors and donations to Cashmere Cares, an organization that assists families in need. This year, the Cashmere Rotary has awarded over $20,000 in scholarships and donated thousands of dollars to Cashmere Cares.

The two-day event, organized by Pickleball Is Great (PIG), will feature men's and women's doubles on Saturday, June 29, and mixed doubles on Sunday, June 30. Single participants will have the opportunity to pair up with other individual players to compete. Age brackets, although not yet finalized, are expected to be divided into categories of under 50, 50-59, and 60+.

Participants will receive a complimentary 'swag bag' containing a tournament T-shirt, sponsor-provided goodies, and raffle tickets for a chance to win significant discounts at local businesses, such as Agave Azul.

Will Nilles: (509) 731-3211 or will@ward.media