Pickleball With a Purpose Provides 50,000 Meals for Vulnerable San Diegans
Now in its third year, the Del Mar Wine + Food Festival is gearing up for another week of food, wine, wellness, and giving back. Each year, a portion of ticket sales goes to Feeding San Diego as the event’s charitable partner.
Co-founders Chris Finn, Ernie Hahn, Claire and Troy Johnson, and Jeremy Macdonald chose the nonprofit because of its mission to help provide meals for vulnerable San Diegans.
“When we founded the Del Mar Wine + Food Festival, we knew we wanted it to be more than just a celebration of great food and wine—we wanted it to serve a greater purpose in our community,” Claire says. “Feeding San Diego was a natural choice as our beneficiary. They’re not only addressing food insecurity in San Diego, but doing it with innovation, dignity, and heart. Supporting its mission allows us to connect the joy of food with the responsibility to ensure everyone has access to it.”
“It means the world to us,” says Allison Glader, strategic marketing and communications consultant for Feeding San Diego. “The need for assistance continues to grow, and we can’t do it alone.”
In addition to donating a portion of its proceeds, festival founders called on their celebrity friends to compete in a pickleball tournament to benefit Feeding San Diego, with football legend Drew Brees spearheading the effort. Pro surfer Rob Machado, tennis star James Blake, former Padres players, Food Network stars, and influencers have also participated.
Last year’s tournament alone raised enough for Feeding San Diego to prepare more than 50,000 meals. The nonprofit, part of the Feeding America network, is able to maximize its impact through food rescue, an innovative system that works with grocery stores, farms, and other donors to “rescue” usable food that would have otherwise gone to waste. That food is in turn distributed at various locations, including schools and libraries, and through other community organizations.
“Because of our business model, every dollar helps provide two nutritious meals—which in this day and age is crazy,” says Glader.
Registration is open for the 2025 pickleball tournament on Friday, Sept. 12. Players have the opportunity to team up with a celebrity or pro athlete, or try their luck on their own or with a partner.
Glader says the goal for this year’s tournament is to double what was raised last year. But anything helps when it comes to hunger relief.
“Sometimes people get intimidated, but even $5 or $10 can help someone. Donating helps. Spreading the word helps. Everything helps,” she says. “We all can do our part in different ways to help make sure people have food on the table.”
The post Pickleball With a Purpose Provides 50,000 Meals for Vulnerable San Diegans appeared first on San Diego Magazine.
Categories
Recent Posts
