The Michael Hoefflin Foundation recently hosted its fifth annual “Paddle for the Battle” pickleball tournament fundraiser at The Paseo Club, with about 200 people of all ages competing.
The foundation was created in 1995 after Michael Hoefflin, then 9 years old, had experienced recurrent brain cancer. His family and friends started the foundation to help children fighting cancer with various resources like counseling services for families, financial support, and gas and grocery support, according to the foundation’s website.
Kelly Asbra, “Paddle for the Battle” tournament director, said events like this are important because it keeps the foundation going.
“This foundation is not funded by the state; it’s funded purely by donors within our community … so the foundation helps them with everything from parking to bereavement costs,” Asbra said.
Asbra added that the pickleball tournament is a way for people to enjoy the day and help the families in need.
“Well, people are having a good time and helping and while doing it, knowing everything that they’re funding or giving, is going back to these kids in need,” Asbra said. “I mean, you can see we’ve got pictures up of every one of these kids in the program. And when you see these faces, you can’t help but want to open your hearts and, you know, help them out, donate.”
Natalie Slater, a board member of the foundation, said the foundation is currently serving 480 families.
“So that’s people that are currently in treatment or just finished treatment, but they’re still involved in the foundation in some way,” Slater said.
She added that the foundation is also celebrating 30 years and has helped over 900 families since it started.
Olivia Powers, a leukemia survivor, was only 3 years old when she was diagnosed and is now 28.
Powers said the foundation was there for her family through the experience.
“They provided a lot of support for my parents, especially through therapy sessions, meeting with other families. They had fundraisers,” Powers said. “They provided meals, a lot of financial support for my family and myself and a lot of friendly support to being around other families, being around other kids with going through the same stuff as us.”
Powers added that she felt grateful to be at the “Paddle for the Battle” tournament and be able to see the people supporting the foundation.
“It’s amazing. The fact that people are willing to, you know, donate their time and their money to help out families in need. It’s absolutely incredible to see. And the fact that I was able to go and give back a little bit to a place that helped me as well. It was a great feeling,” Powers said.
Powers said that she did participate in the tournament, but “didn’t do very well.”
“It was like, my third time ever playing pickleball. So, it was definitely a learning experience, but it still was a lot of fun to be out there and, you know, raise awareness and support and all of that,” Powers said.
Jacqueline Zinder and Vishnu Ananthula, a team at the tournament, love to support any cause that helps people, especially children.
“I think people do not want to be in that situation. If you have a child that gets cancer, people don’t know where to turn. And it’s these causes that help families deal with these kind of things … and we just keep paying it forward to make sure that we keep this going because if you don’t, people forget about things so easily nowadays,” Zinder said.
