Emmys Pickleball Slam raises funds as TV stars compete in Calabasas
Television stars and pickleball players packed Calabasas Pickleball Club for a May 17 fundraiser that backed the Foundation’s education and workforce programs.
The Calabasas Pickleball Club became a fundraiser with real competitive weight as the second annual Emmys Pickleball Slam drew television stars, entertainment leaders and pickleball players into a full-day doubles tournament in Calabasas, California. The event ran from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 17, with proceeds going directly to the Television Academy Foundation’s education and workforce-development programs, which are meant to inspire “tomorrow’s Emmy winners.”
The Foundation turned the event into more than a celebrity exhibition. Red carpet arrivals, a live auction and an awards presentation gave the day the structure of a polished industry gathering, while the court action kept the focus on play. Jason George and Phil Keoghan cohosted the Slam, which invited members, executives and celebrities to compete at a venue that has become one of the sport’s more visible stages for charitable play.
The participant list underscored how far pickleball has moved into mainstream entertainment. Wayne Brady, Jonathan Mangum, Mike Merrill, Jessie Prez and celebrity chef Jet Tila were among the players, reflecting a mix of television personalities and public-facing names that helped widen the event’s reach beyond the core pickleball crowd. The tournament also recognized winners across beginner, intermediate and advanced brackets, giving the day a competitive finish instead of treating it like a casual celebrity hit-and-giggle.
Emily Ma and Jesus Ma won the beginner division. David Hutkin and Dean Hutkin took the intermediate title, while Brodie Smith and Sky Smith won the advanced bracket. Those results gave the Slam a legitimate tournament feel, with multiple levels of competition and a clear path from recreational entry to advanced play.
The fundraising machine behind the event was just as notable as the bracket results. Public tickets were priced at $200 for a single player, $350 for a doubles team and $100 for a VIP spectator package that included a gift bag. Sponsors included 101 Studios, CRBN, Dooney & Bourke, Decoy/Duckhorn Vineyards, Evoke, FIJI Water, JOOLA, LMNT Zero Sugar Hydration, NBCUniversal, The Murray Reese Foundation and trü frü, a roster that showed the event had meaningful brand backing.
The Slam also enters the sport’s charitable record with momentum already established. The Foundation said the 2025 Emmys Pickleball Slam raised $100,000 and benefited both the Television Academy Foundation and the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firefighter’s Fund. With a bigger sponsor list, public entry options and a full-day format, the 2026 edition showed how pickleball has become a durable platform for fundraising, entertainment and competition all at once.
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