She’s Balanced unveils charity pickleball tournament for trafficking survivors

Pickleball players of every age and skill level will get a rare chance to rally around a cause on May 30, when She’s Balanced stages The Power of the Pivot at Central Winds Park in Winter Springs. The one-day event, set for 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM at 900 E State Rd 434, is open to men, women and children, and is designed to welcome first-time beginners as well as advanced competitors.

She’s Balanced framed the tournament as more than a bracketed competition. The program will include skill-based clinics and drills, then move into a friendly tournament and open play, giving participants a format that mixes instruction with live matches. The event will also serve as a fundraiser for The Lifeboat Project, tying court time to survivor support in a way that gives the day immediate community purpose.

The charity connection is central to the pitch. The Lifeboat Project says it provides long-term, trauma-informed care and housing-first support for survivors of human trafficking. Its broader mission includes awareness, aftercare, residential programs, trauma counseling, housing, personal development and educational resources, a scope that makes the pickleball fundraiser part of a much larger recovery pipeline.

The location adds another layer of local relevance. Central Winds Park is described by the City of Winter Springs as the community hub for exercise, games and events, and it already has a dedicated pickleball identity through the AdventHealth Pickleball Complex. The city officially opened that complex on April 13, 2024, giving the venue a recent and concrete history in the sport.

She’s Balanced also signaled that the tournament is part of a broader 2026 calendar, not a one-off. The group’s lineup includes a women’s wellness event planned for September, featuring speakers, coaching and wellness resources. For amateur pickleball, the May 30 fundraiser stands out because it blends accessibility, a local venue built for the sport and a nonprofit mission with clear social stakes.

The sponsorship push matters too. She’s Balanced is treating the event as a community partnership effort, not just a registration drive, which means the tournament’s reach will depend on support beyond the baseline entry list. In a sport built on low barriers to entry and easy social mixing, The Power of the Pivot shows how pickleball is increasingly functioning as a platform for fundraising, awareness and civic action in Central Florida.