We still need your help!!!
As part of its mission the Vancouver Pickleball Association (VPA) is working with schools in Vancouver to introduce and develop pickleball programs. Thus, the EVES (East Vancouver Elementary Schools) Pilot Project was born.
On February 17th, the EVES Project team project team (Tony Casey, Sharon Hoy, Cyndi Boado, Jeff Willett, Raja Sabbagha, Willy Wan, Teresa Mckinley-Harris) and volunteer coaches (Janet Martini, Cheryl Clausen and Justin Liao) conducted a very successful professional development (Pro-d) day. We were overwhelmed with the enthusiasm; instead of 10 teachers, 26 attended. We taught them fundamentals, had them rotate through six stations, played games, raffled off prizes, and gave away donated paddles and a unit plan with resources to get them started. Everyone had a really good time! In appreciation of the EVES team teachers’ efforts, we crowned each of them with a “Tony’s Cap”. We even had CBC reporter Alan Regan on site.
Best of all, we were extremely pleased to give them four sets of pickleball equipment (30 paddles and 30 balls) with the money that was raised so far. Thank you so much but we still need to equip 10 more schools with paddles and balls!
For now, 14 schools will share four sets. Each school needs a set to share between five to eight intermediate classes. Teachers want to have lunch and after school programs like other sports do but this will only be possible if each school has a set of paddles and balls.
Teachers have told us how pickleball is so much more accessible to children with varying athletic abilities, especially students who have not had success in other sports. We want all children to experience the benefits of sport, including those living with financial constraints!
“Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand.” -- Nelson Mandela
We are proud to say that pickleball is now growing in east Vancouver elementary schools. We’re already planning a “Jamboree” in the Spring in addition to a district-wide professional development session.
For more information, please listen to the CBC interviews:
- https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-91-the-early-edition/clip/15962410-pickleball-mania-coming-school-near-soon
- https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-46-on-the-coast/clip/15967735-teachers-take-break-learn-little-pickleball
Please donate now and spread the word! Your donation will touch the livelihoods of so many children.
Thank you from the EVES Project Team!
Please send your donation* now via Interac to “school_outreach@vancouverpickleball.ca” or by using the following donation button:
*The VPA is registered as a not-for-profit organization but is not registered as a charity. Therefore we cannot issue charitable donation receipts and you will not be able to claim a tax credit for donations to the school outreach fund.
