Pickleball for a Purpose Benefiting Foster Together MN

Presented by Cedar Cove Wealth Partners

Date and Time: Friday, October 2nd | 5:30–9:30 PM

Location: Chips Pickleball | Eagan, MN

About the Event (Must be 18+)

Join us for an evening of friendly competition, exciting activities, great prizes, all while we support families within our community.

Every ticket sold and every dollar raised goes directly toward Foster Together MN, a nonprofit walking alongside foster, kinship, and adoptive families in our community so they never have to do it alone.

Your Impact

Our goal is to raise $20,000 and with your help, we can get there.

This funding directly supports families in foster, kinship, and adoptive care across the Twin Cities and beyond. It keeps our resource center, Abundant Goods, stocked with essential items for youth in care. It funds events and gatherings where the community finds belonging. It allows us to sustain and grow so that more families receive the relational and tangible support they deserve.

Twenty thousand dollars means more families feel seen, equipped, and less alone. That's what a Friday night can do.

Can’t attend? You Can Make an Impact Right Now.

Donate today and help us hit our $20,000 goal. Every dollar goes directly toward supporting foster, kinship, and adoptive families in our community by keeping our resource center stocked, funding family gatherings, and making sure no family walks this road alone. To make a donation, click the "Tickets or Donate" button at the top of this page.

We're also looking for a matching donor for the event! A matching gift means every dollar raised gets doubled, multiplying the impact for the families we serve. If that's something you'd be interested in exploring, reach out to Micayla at micayla@fostertogethermn.org!

Schedule of Events

Time	What's Happening
5:30-6:00pm	Doors open — check in & let the fun begin! Grab your name tag and get the lay of the land. Snacks and light beverages will be provided. Full menu and drinks available for purchase all night at Chip’s Cafe & Lounge. Browse raffle prizes, visit wellness vendors for samples & demos, and sign up for a 15-minute lesson with a certified coach — spots fill fast! Players, feel free to use this time to warm up!
6:00pm	Welcome & opening program A quick welcome, chance to hear about the mission behind the paddles and get an overview of the night.
6:30pm-8:30pm	Social Play – Round Robin Time to play! All skill levels welcome — this one's about fun and community.
6:30pm-8:30pm	General Admission – Time for the Fun! Not a pickleball player? Come anyway! There's plenty to keep you busy. Take a free 15-minute intro lesson with a professional pickleball player, compete in fun challenges, grab food & drinks, browse vendor booths, and win prizes. Most importantly, you'll be showing up for foster, kinship, and adoptive families in our community. You don't have to play to make a difference! General admission ticket purchase required.
8:30-9:00pm	Highlight: Pro Exhibition Match You don't want to miss this! Watch impressive pickleball with professional pickleball players and cheer loudly.
9:00-9:30pm	Raffle winners Fingers crossed! Raffle winners are announced. Don't leave before we call your number so you can grab your prize!

General Admission & Players — Come for the Fun

You do not need to play pickleball to have an absolute blast at this event! General admission guests get full access to an evening packed with activities, so bring your friends and join in the fun. Paddles and balls are provided for free.

Eat, drink & play: We'll provide snacks and light beverages for all guests, plus performance fuel (protein bars + electrolytes) for players hitting the courts. Want to make a night of it? Chip's Cafe & Lounge has a full menu available, including appetizers, entrées, and cocktails, for purchase. Check out their menu here: https://www.chipspickleball.com/chips-cafe-lounge-menu
Raffle drawings & mystery bags: Score big with raffle prizes like a private wine class for 20, a Red Wing getaway package, and more. Or grab a $25 mystery bag for a shot at items worth $25 to $250. Every bag's a win, you just don't know how big until you open it. Fun for you, funds to support families.
Participate in contests: Test your skills with low-pressure fun contests and fun prizes!
Pro-exhibition match: Four highly skilled professional pickleball players will face off in a high-energy showcase match you won't want to miss. This is the highlight of the night.
- Jenny Johnson — 5.0 player and 5-time U.S. Open Gold Medalist, competing in the Pro 40+ Champion Series with the Austin Ignite. Certified instructor (PPR/IPTPA) who's coached alongside her daughter Volly, a top-ranked MN junior.
- Aanik Lohani — PPA Tour pro (singles, doubles, mixed), ranked as high as #9 in the world. Turned pro in 2022 and balances competing with a full-time data analytics job and coaching at Lifetime.
- Joel Cassens — Dad of two, former Division 3 college tennis player, playing pickleball since 2020, and all about fitness for the long haul.
- Kaitlin Tran — Open and pro-level competitor and Director of Youth Development at In the Game (Ramsey), where she's growing the next generation of players.
- Mota Alhouni — PPA Tour pro (singles, doubles, mixed) and 3-time All-American at Gustavus Adolphus College. Picked up pickleball in 2023, won his first tournament that February, and is now ranked among the world's top players.
- Tommy LaBat — Head Pro at Pure Pickleball Club, teaching for nearly 9 years and competing for the last three. Always brings the energy and promises a show.
15-minute beginner’s or skill-building session: Learn some tips and tricks from the pros to get you started on your pickleball journey. Limited spots available. Sign up at check-in.
Wellness vendors: Browse local wellness vendors onsite for demos, samples, and fun finds — a little self-care between sets never hurt anyone.
- Connected Meals: Connected Meals brings nourishment and encouragement to your kitchen, one small bite at a time. As a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, Shannon helps people who feel tired, overwhelmed, or stuck with their health goals discover simple, sustainable changes that support better energy, less stress, and more confidence in daily life. Stop by for a free 2-minute mini coaching session and discover your next step toward feeling your best!
- Silver Bell Chiropractic: Silver Bell Chiropractic is a patient-centered clinic helping people move and feel better through chiropractic care, Active Release Technique, Graston Technique, and personalized rehab plans that get to the root of pain. Stop by their table for a live Active Release Technique demonstration and a free sample of LMNT Electrolyte Drink Mix!
- North Country Nutrition: North Country Nutrition is your local spot for fun, convenient nutrition with a healthy twist! We specialize in high-protein shakes, energizing teas, protein snacks, and grab-and-go options designed to make fueling your day both easy and delicious. At the event, we’ll be offering FREE samples of our protein energy balls and protein puppy chow so attendees can get a taste of some of our favorite better-for-you treats! We’ll also have our energizing teas and protein donuts available for purchase for anyone who wants to take some North Country Nutrition goodness home with them. We’re excited to meet everyone, share what we do, and show that adding a little more protein and energy to your day can actually taste REALLY good!
- Zyia Active by Jessica: I'm an independent Zyia Active rep. Zyia makes activewear that holds up when you actually move, and the line now runs into wellness products too. The women I work with are usually trying to get back to feeling good in their own bodies while they run everyone else's schedule. Guests will get something to taste, not just a flyer. I'll be mixing and pouring three things from the Zyia wellness line: Zyia Activate, Zyia Nourish, and Protein.

General Admission Pricing

Early Bird Pricing: $15
Regular Pricing: $20 (Starting September 1st)

Tickets are non-refundable. If you can no longer attend, please email us as soon as possible at micayla@fostertogethermn.org.

Limited spots available. Ticket purchase is required to attend.

Note: You must be 18+ to attend this event.

Pickleball Social Play

Play Format

Round Robin: 1 game to 11 points, win by 1 point (or for 15 minutes, whichever comes first). Both teams must initial the scorecard that the court captain has.
There is a max of 20 teams overall.
There will be 3 levels of play: New/Novice, Intermediate, High/Advanced (*See further information below on determining your level.)

Prizes: A prize will be given to the top team in each level. The team with the most points accumulated is the winner.

Social Play Pricing

Team (2 players): $90
Individual: $50

Limited spots available. The deadline to register is September 25th.

Tickets are non-refundable. If you can no longer attend, please email us as soon as possible at micayla@fostertogethermn.org so we can open your spot for the social play.

Important Information:

Rating: You will select your rating level when you purchase your ticket. Self-Rating Suggestions (Not DUPR):
- New/Novice: New players and players who know the rules and the different shots (dink, volley, drive), but are inconsistent.
- Intermediate: Players with some experience, able to sustain a rally, improving shot consistency and variety, including dinking.
- High/Advanced: Competitive, skilled players with strong strategies, and consistent soft game and shot placement.
Individuals: Individual sign-ups will be paired with another single player based on availability. We'll do our best to match by skill level, though pairings aren't guaranteed.
Grouping: Teams will be grouped by selected level when possible, but levels may be combined depending on registration numbers.
Age Requirement: You must be 18+ to participate and attend this event.
Tournament Schedule: A game schedule will be posted at the site. Court captains will also assist in guiding you to the correct court.
Hydration: Please bring drinks to hydrate yourself. We’ll have some water, snack bars and bananas for you if you need something to refuel. Chip’s also has a full menu of food and drink available for purchase. Check out their menu here: https://www.chipspickleball.com/chips-cafe-lounge-menu
Sportsmanship Expected: Pickleball is played for everyone’s enjoyment, and sometimes it is difficult for players to determine what level of play they are registering for. Please treat all teams with the utmost sportsmanship regardless of your opponent’s ability.

🏆 Our Presenting Sponsor

Cedar Cove Wealth Partners is a Bloomington, Minnesota-based financial planning firm dedicated to helping individuals and families build a healthy, confident relationship with money. Through holistic, values-based wealth management, their team works alongside clients to plan for the future, build a lasting legacy, and navigate life's uncertainties — all while staying true to what matters most to each person they serve. At Cedar Cove, giving back is woven into the fabric of how they do business. They believe that true financial wellness includes the ability to support the people and communities you care about. They are proud to support Foster Together MN and its mission to strengthen the lives of children and families in our community. You can learn more at www.cedarcovewealth.com

🤝 Our Sponsors

Snack & Hydration Sponsor ($1,000)

Barley & Vine Kitchen/Bar

Exhibition Match Sponsor ($1,000)

BTD Manufacturing

Court & Partner Sponsors ($500)

Darin Nelson, Keller Williams Select Realty
City and County Credit Union
Jim and Kathryn Lesnar
Families Rising Minnesota
Millz House
Skol Marketing
3M Global Procurement
Kid to Kid (Eagan)
Uptown Cheapskate (Eagan)
D&L Construction LLC

Lessons & Friend Sponsors ($250)

FAQ’s

Do I have to play pickleball to attend? No! Come out and support a great cause. We promise there is fun for all, including the general admission attendees!
Do I have to know how to play pickleball to participate in social play? No! We’ll place you in a level with other new and novice players. There will be a court captain who will help with rules, etc. However, you’ll have even more fun if you learn the rules ahead of time. This link is very helpful: https://pickleball.com/docs/en/article/how-to-play-pickleball-a-complete-beginners-guide-2
What time do I have to arrive if I am playing? Please arrive by 5:45pm to get checked in before the program and overview of the night. This is a timed event, so we want to start on time to be fair to everyone.
What is a round robin format? Round robin is when every team plays every other team once. However, because of the time constraint and depending on the number of registrants, that will be modified in order for every team to play 6 games.
What is a timed event? Players will play until one team scores 11 points OR until the bell rings, whichever comes first. Each game is 15 minutes max. Scoring is first to 11 points, win by 1point.
What happens if we don’t finish a game? The team that is ahead will receive points added to their actual score to equal 11, and the other team will receive the same number of points added to their score.
How are the winners determined? The team with the most wins is the winner. Ties are first determined by total points scored, then by head to head game.
Who keeps score? The court captain will assist the teams in keeping track of the score and for taking the score sheet to the head table.
How many games will we play? We are going to arrange it so that every team plays 6 games. What that looks like will depend on the number of registrants. Each category may be different.
Questions? Email Micayla at micayla@fostertogethermn.org

Pickleball for a Purpose | Foster Together MN

Presented by Cedar Cove Wealth Partners