Pickleball for a Purpose: The Painted Turtle’s 4th Annual Tournament at The Griffin Club

On Sunday, May 4th, twenty-four enthusiastic players took to the courts at the historic Griffin Club Los Angeles to rally for a cause—raising funds to ensure that experiences at The Painted Turtle remain completely free of charge for campers and their families.

Advanced and intermediate players competed throughout the day in friendly but fierce matches, all vying for a spot in the final playoff round. The tournament culminated in exciting playoff games between the top scorers in both divisions. Winners received medals and had their pick of incredible prize packages, making the victory even sweeter!

The event began with a warm welcome from The Painted Turtle Co-Founder Page Adler, who shared a heartfelt message of gratitude and a powerful reminder of why we play: to send more children to The Painted Turtle – Free of charge. Former camper and summer staff member Christie Owen followed with a moving story about the lifelong impact of Camp on her journey.

“As a child, The Painted Turtle gave me a profound sense of belonging—a community of people who truly understood my illness and what I was going through. As an adult and staff member, Camp helped me grow as a leader and taught me, as an educator, how to build inclusive communities where everyone has a place.”

Guests enjoyed festive food and drinks throughout the day, and everyone went home with a gift bag filled with fantastic goodies, including:

• Pickleball Blast board game from Moose Toys
• Water bottles and Merchandise Discounts from J. Pritchard
• Salad Dressing and Cookies from Newman’s Own
• Water from Origin
• Selkirk Pickleballs and Bracelets
• Painted Turtle swag

Prize baskets for the winners were nothing short of spectacular and featured:

• Four Night stay at the Maui Four Seasons Resort
• An MVP Dodgers Experience for four
• Deluxe Bundle Bag for Two from Short Court
• Selkirk paddle and bag bundles
• Two stylish bikes from The Bike Shop Santa Monica courtesy of Jake O’Donogue
• A designer Pickleball bag and fun pickleball accessories from Georgie & Lou
• Court time at Pickle Pop Santa Monica
• Luxury Hotel Stays at Ares and Beacon 15!

The day was filled with community spirit, joyful competition, and Painted Turtle magic. Thank you to everyone who made it a smashing success.

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Big Thanks to all of our Sponsors!