Pattison’s Paddle Battle turns Charleston pickleball into inclusive fundraiser

Crush Yard turned into a purpose-driven stop for Charleston-area pickleball as Pattison’s Academy staged its inaugural Pattison’s Paddle Battle, a round-robin fundraiser that welcomed every skill level and sent all proceeds to the nonprofit. The two-hour event ran from 3 to 5 p.m. on April 26 in Mount Pleasant, giving players a compact, social format with a clear civic payoff.

What made the tournament stand out for travel-minded players was how deliberately it lowered the barrier to entry. Participants could sign up solo and be matched with a partner, and the event offered adaptive pickleball equipment and modified play options. That made Pattison’s Paddle Battle feel less like a bracket built only for regulars and more like a true open-door pickleball stop, the kind of event that can pull in first-timers, mixed-skill groups and visitors looking for something beyond a standard tournament draw.

The cause behind it gave the day its weight. Pattison’s Academy says its mission is to unlock potential for children with multiple disabilities and empower their families. The organization runs a public charter school sponsored by Charleston County School District, along with private therapy services, family support focused on early intervention and a therapeutic summer camp. In other words, the tournament was not just a fundraiser attached to a name; it supported a school-and-services network that reaches deeply into daily life for the children and families it serves.

That mission is part of what made the event feel worth the trip, even with ticket prices listed at $15 to $25. A casual, fast-moving format at Crush Yard paired with Charleston’s built-in destination appeal gave the fundraiser a stronger pull than an ordinary local league night. Players were not just buying court time. They were buying into a cause event with a clear identity, a welcoming structure and a setting that made a short stay feel more like a getaway.

Dr. Laura Milena Ganci, Pattison’s Academy’s executive director, has spent years in children’s services, including 11 years with the Children’s Services Council of Broward County, where she served as director of research and planning before coming to Charleston. That background fit the event’s tone: organized, mission-first and designed to broaden participation rather than narrow it. For retreat-minded readers, this was exactly the sort of pickleball date worth circling when it returns, a fundraiser that gave travel, registration and community impact the same court.