BP Gives’ pickleball tournament powers veterans fundraiser in Denton

BP Gives is leaning on the same formula again, and it is a good example of why pickleball keeps working for fundraisers that need turnout, sponsor appeal and a clear mission. The organization will host its 12th annual pickleball tournament May 2-3 at ATP in Denton, formerly known as Dinkers, while also staging a racquetball tournament May 2 at LA Fitness in Highland Village, 3198 Justin Road. Registration for the pickleball draw closes Monday, April 27.

The event is built around more than a bracket. BP Gives is raising money for Wounded Warrior Project and local veterans, and veterans will share their stories before play begins. That personal element gives the tournament a built-in reason to be passed around beyond the core pickleball crowd, especially for players who want their entry fee to do more than cover court time and medals.

Founder Mark Waldorf has long tied the fundraiser to military service and community support. Wounded Warrior Project says Waldorf started the effort after being inspired by his son Collin’s military service, and the organization says Collin Waldorf has served in the U.S. Army for nine years. That veteran connection is the share hook here. It turns a familiar rec event into something people can explain in one sentence: play pickleball, hear from veterans, help raise money for those who served.

The format has already proven it can last. Earlier reporting said the Coppell-area pickleball and racquetball shootouts had raised more than $50,000 over nine years, and BP Gives now says its events have continued a mission of raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for veterans. The organization is also adding a 3rd Annual Honor Dinner on April 29 at Marty B’s in Bartonville, widening the fundraiser beyond court play and stretching the effort across nearly two weeks of community events.

ATP gives the tournament a strong home base. ATP Pickleball Club USA calls itself the largest indoor, air-conditioned pickleball facility in Texas, with 45,000 square feet and 15 courts. The club says it hosts more than 24 tournaments and events each year and at least 100 leagues, the kind of steady traffic that makes a multi-day charity event easier to stage and easier to sell. In a crowded nonprofit calendar, that repeatable setup is the point: pickleball brings the players, the veteran story gives it meaning, and the multi-sport format keeps the audience wider than pickleball alone.