 The Academy in ACTIONHealthy Youth and Communities Through Pickleball July 2026 Issue No. 13 Red, White, & PICKLEBALL! JULY 3, 2026 Around the nation, communities were preparing to celebrate our country's 250th birthday. Here in Aiken at Virginia Acres Park, our pickleball community was already celebrating in the best way we knew how, with a supply drive and fundraiser for a local nonprofit.  The temperature wasn't the only thing that was hot--so was our generous community. Folks came in droves carrying bags and boxes of supplies for The Bridge2Home, a shelter for trafficked teenaged girls.   In all, 207 food, health, and beauty items were collected and $213 was donated, showing love to the girls at The Bridge2Home. Our country has always had a generous heart, and nowhere is that more evident than on our pickleball courts!  Happy Birthday, USA!   The Heart of the South Charity Tournament is a joint fundraiser for Bethany Christian Services which focuses on adoption and foster care and our Southern Pickleball Academy. It's a perfect match: both nonprofits have a heart for children and work hard to provide them with opportunities for their best lives. Together, these two non-profits are hosting an exciting, high-energy pickleball tournament that serves a dual mission: supporting children and families in the foster care system while empowering youth through the First Paddle program. To sign up for the 3.0 or 3.5 tournament: https://pickleballtournaments.com/tournaments/6c4d00f2-e9a0-49a9-9de6-88ce4b13af0c To sign up for the Junior or Novice Scramble: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/heart-of-the-south-scramble-2026-registration Want to volunteer or sponsor this event? Click the buttons or reply to this email.  Did you know that a gift of....
 Saturday, August 8: Dinks & Donuts + Wellness, starting at 7:00am @ Harrison Caver Park. Family friendly, experienced players and novices welcome, loaner paddles available! And FREE DONUTS! Friday, September 4: Pickleball & Pizza @ Virginia Acres Park. SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE! 5:30-7:30pm. Family friendly, experienced players and novices welcome, loaner paddles available! And FREE PIZZA! Monday-Friday, Sept. 28-Oct.2: First Paddle1 Novice Fall Break Camp @ Gregg Park Civic Center. Ages 9-14 Monday-Friday, Oct. 5-9: First Paddle2 Skill Builders Fall Break Camp @ St. Johns Methodist downtown. Ages 9-14. Job Opening: First Paddle Lead Mentor  We are looking for an apprentice Lead Mentor for our Fall 2026 First Paddle Camps! We'll train you — just bring your energy and pickleball skills. Future engagement may be available upon successful completion of this apprenticeship. The role: $150/week, 2.5 hours a day, all 5 camp days required. What you'll do:
What we're looking for: Someone who's solid at pickleball, organized, and great with kids. You'll need to pass a background check and complete online training before camp starts. For more information or to apply, email caitlin@firstpaddle.org  We are having a school supply drive for September's Pickleball & Pizza! Donations will go to East Aiken Elementary, a Title 1 school with a poverty rating of 67.3%. School supplies are on sale now--stock up now for September! Tax-free weekend is August 7-9! School Supplies Requested
   From First Paddle to National Competition: One Family's Pickleball Journey  NEWBIES TO AIKEN AND PICKLEBALL When Eleshia and Ian McCarthy moved to Aiken with their three boys a couple of years ago, they weren't looking for a new family sport. They found one anyway. "We took an intro session in Graniteville as a family and quickly got hooked," Eleshia recalls. That single session set off a chain reaction that's turned pickleball into a way of life for the whole family — parents Eleshia and Ian, and sons Haidyn (14), Hudson (9), and Hunter (7, who just picked up a paddle himself!).   Hudson and Haidyn participate in First Paddle FOUNDATION BUILDING WITH FIRST PADDLE After that first taste of the sport, the McCarthys got Haidyn and Hudson enrolled in Southern Pickleball Academy's First Paddle program — and it made all the difference. "That program taught them the fundamentals that we have built on over the past 16 months," Eleshia says. Sixteen months later, those fundamentals have turned into national tournament appearances and cross-country travel for competition. Ian, meanwhile, has found his own role as the family's "drill master," keeping practice sharp between events.  WHY IT STUCK For the McCarthys, pickleball offered something beyond a good workout. As newcomers to South Carolina, it became a way to put down roots. "Being new to South Carolina, it was also a great way to meet new people and find a sense of community," Eleshia says. "We loved that we could play together. We can always play a doubles match wherever we go!" For the boys, it's the progression that keeps them hooked — watching their own skills develop match by match — along with the travel. The family has already played in New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Ohio, North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and all over the Tampa and Orlando areas of Florida.   LESSONS BEYOND THE COURT Ask Eleshia what pickleball has given her family, and the answer goes well past the scoreboard. "It's taught them that hard work pays off," she says. "It's taught us all The sport has also simply brought the family closer together. "Pickleball has become a way of life," Eleshia says. "It's brought us closer and allows us to spend so much time together. We look forward to practicing and being a respected family on the court."  BIG DREAMS, BIGGER WORK ETHIC Both older boys have their sights set high. Hudson, already playing well above his age level, has his eyes on going pro — and recent opportunities coming his way suggest he's on the right track. Haidyn has a clear role model: PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball pro Hayden Patriquin ("Big H"), and a goal to match — earning a college scholarship through the sport. With Haidyn's experience this summer as a First Paddle Junior Mentor, he is certainly on the right track for that scholarship.*  Haidyn as a Junior Mentor for First Paddle NEXT STEPS "As parents, we want them to achieve whatever their heart desires, and we plan to play beside them the entire way," Eleshia says. "They're talented That next step comes soon: Haidyn and Hudson will make their National Junior Pickleball debut in Orlando over Labor Day weekend — a milestone the whole family has been building toward since that first intro session in Graniteville. Southern Pickleball Academy is proud to have played a part in the McCarthy family's journey through our First Paddle program. Know someone we should feature in a future Player Spotlight? Reach out — we'd love to hear their story. *More info on Academy scholarships @ southernpickleballacademy.org ! How are we doing? Leave us a review on Google or Facebook!  Serving Aiken area with the Best Air Conditioning Repair, Heating Repair and MoreSince 2001, our customers have called Aiken HVAC the finest air conditioning company in the Aiken, SC area. Our professional and certified technicians understand the challenges of all seasons on your air conditioning or heating system and are available 24/7 for your comfort. Our commitment to superior service and honest, transparent business practices are unmatched. From quick repair to complete installation, there’s no job our skilled technicians can’t handle. Phone 24/7: 706-831-8913 Email: info@aikenhvac.com Website: https://aikenhvac.com/  My doubles partner told me I had to stop acting like a flamingo. So I had to put my foot down.  Our Sponsors make it possible for us to do what we do!
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