Kitchens for Kitchens Event Raised Funds For Habitat for Humanity in Maryland

By Bob Reinert
Red Line Editorial

In pickleball, the “kitchen” is, of course, the seven-foot area on either side of the net designating a non-volley zone. In a family home, however, it can be a comfortable gathering place.

When Habitat for Humanity of Wicomico County, Maryland, sought to provide a new kitchen for a low-income family, Molly Hilligoss — the organization’s executive director — reached out to the folks at Crown Sports Center in Fruitland about holding a pickleball event to raise the funds. The result was the inaugural Kitchens for Kitchens Pickleball Tournament benefitting Habitat for Humanity, which took place March 23.

“She was basically looking at fundraising ideas and thought about pickleball,” said tournament director Carson Bozman of Hilligoss. “So, we went ahead and just basically ran the tournament, donated 100 percent of our time.”

With less than three months’ lead time, Bozman and a small group of volunteers went to work and organized a one-day tournament that drew 60 players from as far as 100 miles away. They competed in women’s and men’s doubles. There was also a small beginners’ division.

“When they see it’s a fundraiser and the money’s staying local, that helps a lot,” said Bozman of the tournament’s attraction. With a little more lead time, he figures the event would have drawn an even bigger field.

In addition to the $55 entry fees from players, the tournament received donated items from such companies as Pickleball Central, Jigsaw Health, Onix Pickleball and Vulcan Sporting Goods, as well as from local businesses, some of which were raffled off.

“I tell you, my wife (Kim) hit the ground running with most of it,” Bozman said. “I can’t take that much credit for it. She really took care of all the legwork.

“We were trying anything we could do to make a dollar so that they could get the kitchen taken care of.”

Kim called it a team effort and said she’s looking forward to next year’s event.

“It was a wonderful day and a great tournament for Habitat for Humanity and everyone who attended,” Kim said. “I am excited to help grow the game of pickleball in our community.

“Habitat for Humanity helps many people in our local community, so Carson and I were happy to help when asked about running their tournament. Molly and her staff were very helpful throughout the entire process, especially on the day of the fundraiser.”

According to Bozman, the tournament “went very smoothly. It really, really did well. It really flowed well. We also had a good little volunteer group that helped us. It went well. Nobody stressed.”

In the end, Habitat for Humanity raised enough money to provide the family with a new kitchen, and Bozman received a great deal of positive feedback from tournament participants.

“We were extremely pleased with everybody leaving more than happy and telling us that they were excited about the day and how it went and that they couldn’t wait to see us next year. (They) loved it a lot,” Bozman said. “We felt so good about it. It made us feel great. It did.”

Though he has worked on tournaments in the past, Bozman, a certified instructor, was acting as an event director for the first time. He began playing pickleball five years ago and has lost 45 pounds since.

“I just enjoy being around it,” said Bozman, a junior tennis player decades ago. “I do a little bit of everything. You want to stay out on the court as long as you can. It’s just good for me to be out there.”

Bozman said there’s no doubt that the tournament will continue next year. He added that he might even favor a two-day event in the future that would accommodate both gender and mixed doubles.

“We were happy,” Bozman said. “It was inaugural, so (Habitat for Humanity is) definitely going to do it again. Now we’ve got legs to grow on with them.”

With a solid foundation now established, Bozman is confident that, with more lead time and promotion, the event could experience significant growth.

“If I had a full day … we could take over 150 (participants) because we use eight courts,” Bozman said. “We could get that bumped up quick.”

Bob Reinert spent 17 years writing sports for The Boston Globe. He also served as a sports information director at Saint Anselm College and Phillips Exeter Academy. He is a contributor to USA Pickleball on behalf of Red Line Editorial, Inc.