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Beaufort County board approves tentative March weekend for pickleball charity tournament
Summary
Lowcountry Pickleball Leauge told the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board it raised $12,687 for Family Promise and about 1,000 pounds of food for 2nd Helpings; the board approved giving the league first priority for a March weekend subject to facility availability and coordination with existing programs.
The Beaufort County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board on Jan. 9 gave Lowcountry Pickleball Leagues priority to pursue a three-day charity tournament on a second or third weekend in March, contingent on facility availability and coordination with the department’s regular programs.
At the meeting, Brian Fenlon, representing Lowcountry Pickleball Leagues, told the board the November fundraiser at Burton Wells collected roughly 1,000 pounds of food for 2nd Helpings and presented Family Promise director Tamika Blake with a check for $12,687. Fenlon provided a financial breakdown to staff and said league registration totaled $12,800, additional donations in a drop box were $908 and raffle proceeds were $970; league expenses were about $1,900.
“Everything went smooth and they loved our facility,” Fenlon said, adding that players from north of the Broad were surprised by the proximity and quality of Burton Wells. He asked the board for a Friday–Sunday slot in the second or third weekend of March to spread events across three days and increase fundraising.
Board members discussed coordination with regular programs and noted the department has received many facility requests. A motion was made to approve the requested March weekend “based upon availability” and to give the league first opportunity for that weekend; the board voted in favor. Board members asked Fenlon to continue coordinating dates with Parks and Recreation staff and to return to report how the event performed.
Board and staff said the approval was conditional on avoiding conflicts with existing programs and on staff confirmation of available dates; no formal fee waiver or long-term scheduling commitment was made at the meeting.
The board’s decision follows the league’s stated plan to hold a similar spring tournament and to run an annual turkey drive for 2nd Helpings; Fenlon said the league has roughly 3,000 members and expects continued charitable participation.
The board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for March 6 in Bluffton, where staff said they will provide availability and any required scheduling guidance for tournaments.
