Doing Good
Pickle for Pups Combines Pickleball, Parties and Fun for a Worthy Cause
Published
8 months agoon
The two-day event aims to raise funds for local dog rescue
Show off your pickleball skills, cheer on the players, meet fellow dog lovers and enjoy the beautiful facility and courts at Life Time Health & Fitness Center in Peachtree Corners at the second annual Pickle for Pups fundraising weekend.
Whether you’re a tournament-level player or a pickleball beginner, this two-day event offers fun for everyone. With exciting games, drills and open play; a Friday night party; Saturday team tournament; and an online raffle, it’s a great way to meet and mingle with other pickleball enthusiasts while supporting the work done by BarkVille Dog Rescue.
Weekend events
The festivities kick off on Friday, November 15 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. with an evening of food, drinks, live music and pickleball. The Life Time pros will offer clinics and drills, and other courts will be available for open play. Some of the rescue’s adorable, adoptable dogs will even be onsite for the fun.
Saturday, November 16 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. will feature the team tournament with two divisions: 3.0/3.5 and 4.0/4.5. Matches will include one men’s line, one women’s line and two mixed lines. The top four teams in each level will advance to the medal round, and medals for the top three teams in each division will be awarded.
Participants can form their own team or ask to be placed on a team at their level.
Team tournament players will receive a boxed lunch, and food will also be available for purchase at the club restaurant.
In addition to tournament play, beginners clinics and drills will be offered from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m., and open play will be available for those who can’t commit to the full afternoon but still want to have some pickleball fun.
There will be nine courts available for Friday night and 12 courts for Saturday. All courts are permanent pickleball courts and indoor courts are also available, so the event will be held rain or shine.
Ticket options
The Drinks & Dinks pass includes entrance to the Friday evening party (complete with food, drink, live music and pickleball), as well as entry on Saturday for open play, clinics and drills. Cost: $50.
The Top Dog “Team Up for Rescue” tournament pass is for people playing in the team tournament and includes registration for all of the action on Saturday as well as the Friday night party and an event swag bag. Cost: $75.
Both ticket options allow you to come both days or just one day.
The raffle
Pickle for Pups is also holding a raffle featuring amazing prizes, including an all-inclusive trip for two to the Caribbean, a Zane Navratil ProXR paddle and virtual lesson, gift cards to local restaurants and more.
New prizes will be added weekly leading up to the event. Raffle tickets can be purchased online through November 16. The drawing will be held that day at 3:00 p.m.
Ten raffle entries are $25; 140 entries can be purchased for $200. Other entry packages are available for $50 and $100 as well.
The details
Event dates: November 15-16
Location: Life Time Health Club & Fitness Center at 6350 Courtside Dr. NW, Peachtree Corners, GA
For more information or to make a donation, purchase event tickets or buy raffle entries, visit go.rallyup.com/pickleforpups2024.
For more about BarkVille Dog Rescue, visit barkvilledogrescue.org.
Information about Life Time in Peachtree Corners can be found at lifetime.life/locations/ga/peachtree-corners.
Related
Doing Good
Vox-Pop-Uli Launches RED Initiative for Veterans’ Support
Published
6 days agoon
May 28, 2025Like most Americans, the Hajduk family is grateful for the safety and service military personnel provide.
“Veterans causes and military support is something that’s very near and dear to me and [my wife] Cindy personally,” said Andrew Hajduk, owner of Vox-pop-uli, a Peachtree Corners marketing production company. “As parents, and business owners, my family is [tied to the] military.”
Both Hajduk’s father and his older son Daniel, who is also the company’s client development manager, are veterans. Daniel Hajduk served in the Navy. His younger son, Steven is currently serving in the Navy on board the USS Carl Vinson.
“I think that we’ve gotten away from pride in military service and things like that,” said Hajduk. “But now I think it’s coming back.”
With the remnants of the COVID pandemic finally disappearing, he said he’s noticing more companies bringing people back to work.
“Companies are working on their brand and finding their identity, and we really wanted to help them support their causes,” he said. “We live in a great country, and we don’t do nearly enough to recognize these men and women [in the military]. We just wanted to raise awareness for those kids that are out there serving.”
Red Shirt Friday
While Vox-pop-uli was doing business with Aaron’s, it realized the rent-to-own retailer was participating in a national program called “Red Shirt Friday.” It’s a day of recognition for the brave individuals who serve in the military, according to RedShirtFriday.com.
The acronym R.E.D., which stands for Remembering Everyone Deployed (or Remember Everyone Deployed), was created to remind people of the heroes overseas and show that those back home are thinking of them.
“Now we do Red Shirt Friday, and there are lots of other companies out there that do it,” said Hajduk. “We’ve had people ask us over the years why we’re all wearing red — so we’ve explained it.”
Since the company adds custom designs to just about every type of product, some clients started asking for an American flag to be added to the backs, and sometimes the sleeves, of their custom apparel. That sparked an idea for Vox-pop-uli.
Initiative for local, national veteran support
With clients seeking ways to be a part of the movement, Vox-pop-uli launched a new program in November.
“We’re on a mission to raise $1 million in ten years for veteran support groups,” said Hajduk. “And we found in talking to people that there are a lot of local military support groups out there.”
Called The RED Collection, for every item purchased — from their selection of shirts, jackets, mugs and hats — Vox-pop-uli will donate $5 directly to support veterans. An American flag can also be added to the left sleeve of the garments.
Many smaller veterans groups in communities like Peachtree Corners don’t always have the resources or level of awareness that groups like Wounded Warriors, Tunnel to Towers, the Gary Sinise Foundation and other well-known national charities have.
“They’re all great causes, but we’ve got so many guys in our community that those groups don’t always reach,” said Hajduk.
Helping companies, helping causes
He mentioned a group in South Georgia that’s part of the Wake for Warriors organization. On weekends, volunteers throughout the country take disabled veterans that were wounded in service out onto local lakes for a day of fun and healing.
“They’ve got all the wakeboards and stuff like that equipped for these guys that have lost limbs and things … ,” he said. “We’re trying to help other causes like that.”
Companies are donating a portion of the sales for the “red shirt” products to the charities of their choice. And Vox-pop-uli is donating its profits from those items to military-based nonprofits as well.
“As we’ve done this, we have found there’s a huge calling or need that companies want to find their purpose,” he said.
Once the decision is made to get involved, Vox-pop-uli is there to help companies get started in the process.
Every good cause needs funding
The idea is so easy for the company to execute that Vox isn’t limiting the help to just giving to military-based services.
“We’re working with people to get involved with their pet projects. No pun intended, but maybe it’s a local animal shelter,” said Hajduk.
He mentioned a company that has a foundation where half of the money goes to scholarships and half of the money goes to disaster relief.
“They’re a nationwide retailer with 330 stores. They have a ton of employees in Florida that last year got rocked with hurricanes,” he said. “They were able to give back to the associates in their member companies to get them back on their feet.”
In that case, the company is branding on the sleeve of the shirt so that it still has the company name on there.
“It’s still great workwear and stuff, but they’re also taking a portion of the sales, and we’re giving on it as well,” said Hajduk. “We had one client present a check to its board of directors of the foundation for $4,800.”
With that one client alone, Vox-pop-uli will probably exceed the goal of raising $1 million in ten years. Hajduk said he’d be happy to modify it.
Related
Community
The PCBA Awards $500 to Light Up The Corners at After-Hours Event
Published
7 days agoon
May 28, 2025The Peachtree Corners Business Association (PCBA) awarded a check for $500 to Light Up the Corners at their May 2025 Business After Hours event.
Light Up the Corners, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit, organizes the annual Glow Run and Twilight Trot — a nighttime, community celebration that’s equal parts race, fun run, party and fundraiser.
This year’s event is scheduled for Saturday, August 16 at The Forum in Peachtree Corners. The 1K Twilight Trot will start at 8 p.m., and the four-mile Glow Run will begin at 8:30 p.m. After the runners have crossed the finish line, a fun, post-race party will follow.
All proceeds from the Light Up the Corners event go to benefit less fortunate children and families in the community by giving them the chance to participate in life-enhancing programs and activities at the Fowler YMCA.
A history of charitable donations
PCBA’s donation to Light Up the Corners will help the organization meet its goal of assisting struggling families through their Why It Matters campaign. It’s the latest in a series of donations that PCBA has made over the years through their community outreach program.
“We are so proud that the PCBA has awarded 20 scholarships to outstanding future business leaders and donated in excess of $173,500 into our metro Atlanta community over the last 13 years,” said Lisa Proctor, PCBA board president.
Funds for PCBA’s community outreach program are raised throughout the year from PCBA membership, sponsorships and Tailgates and Touchdowns, an annual charity event they hold each August. Donations and scholarships are awarded at their Business After Hours events so that their members have the opportunity to learn more about the community organizations.
About Peachtree Corners Business Association
The Peachtree Corners Business Association is a business membership organization that focuses on innovative approaches, programs, shared resources, community outreach and opportunities for member businesses and professionals to connect, develop, grow and prosper.
The PCBA is made up of businesses of all sizes and types that want to expand their reach and grow their business within Peachtree Corners and the greater metro Atlanta area.
For more information call 678-969-3385, email membership@peachtreecornersba.com or visit peachtreecornersba.com.
Related
The Peachtree Corners Business Association (PCBA) awarded local high school senior, Heidi Chung, a $1,000 scholarship during their April 24 Business After Hours event. Heidi and her family were presented with the scholarship and introduced to the organization’s members and guests at the monthly gathering.
Heidi was accepted by several colleges and has selected the University of Kentucky to continue her education, pursuing a degree in nursing. When asked what lessons she has learned from her experiences volunteering and serving in the community throughout her life, Heidi commented, “I have learned that true leadership is about service, taking initiative and persevering through challenges.”
Scholarship Chair Donna Linden and Outreach Director Suzanna Martinez shared that the scholarship committee was impressed with Heidi’s many accomplishments, “whether she was organizing fundraisers, leading performance groups or helping athletes recover from injuries, Heidi demonstrated a positive impact on the community, as well as outstanding academic results.”
Funds for the PCBA Community Outreach Program are raised throughout the year from PCBA membership, sponsorship and an annual charity event. Donations and scholarships are awarded at PCBA’s monthly events so that members have the opportunity to learn more about the individuals and organizations.
“We are so proud that the PCBA has … awarded 20 scholarships to outstanding future business leaders and donated in excess of $173,000 into our metro Atlanta community over the last 13 years,” stated Lisa Proctor, PCBA board president.
About Peachtree Corners Business Association
“Where Businesses Come to Grow,” the Peachtree Corners Business Association is a business membership organization that focuses on innovative approaches, programs, shared resources, community outreach and opportunities for member businesses and professionals to connect, develop, grow and prosper.
The PCBA is made up of businesses of all sizes and types who want to expand their reach and grow their business within Peachtree Corners and the greater metro Atlanta area.
For more information, call 678-969-3385, email membership@peachtreecornersba.com or visit peachtreecornersba.com.
Related
Read the Digital Edition
Subscribe
Keep Up With Peachtree Corners News
Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team.