Pickleball tournament raises money for Christmas Happiness
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, December 17, 2019
By Shavonne Walker
shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY — Despite some freezing rain on Friday, 96 pickleball players from Salisbury and other towns held “holly jolly” pickleball games and collected $3,850 for the Christmas Happiness Fund.
The event, presented by DRC Pickleball, was held at the JF Hurley Family YMCA. The Y has been host to four previous such games where participants have raised over $14,600.
Participants were from not only Salisbury. They came from Winston-Salem, Charlotte, Sparta, Pinehurst, Bessemer City, Denton and Hiddenite to enjoy what has become a fast-growing sport.
Those gathered ate pizza, wings and desserts and as well as shared holiday cheer with old friends and made new ones, said a letter that accompanied the contribution.
The contribution was given in memory of Lynn Rogers, John Stevens and Jamie Redfern, “who we will miss on and off the courts,” the letter said.
The Christmas Happiness Fund was created nearly 70 years ago when Murphy discovered that some area children would not receive anything for Christmas. He asked the community to help, and help they did. More than $1,000 was raised for Rowan County’s children and families in need. The tradition continues with the community making contributions of varying amounts and earmarking their gifts in memory or honor of someone important to them.
Contributions may be delivered to the Salisbury Post, 131 W. Innes St., between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays or mailed to Salisbury Post Christmas Happiness Fund, P.O. Box 4639, Salisbury, NC 28145-4639.
Today’s contributions are:
• In memory of Mildred Cheek by Friday Afternoon Bridge Club, $220
• Anonymous, $1,000
• In honor of our teachers: Theresa Safrit, Carl Eagle, and Rev. Don Safrit by Messiah Lutheran Church Adult Sunday School Class ,$150
• In memory of Katherine Hobson, $100
• In honor of Will, Paige, Hal, Bert, Maye, Viv and Ellianne by Bill and Tony Kenerly, $100
• In memory of Susie and Tom Thurston and Dick Thurston by Susan and Joe Sember, $200
• In memory of George Brown by Naomi Brown, $100
• In loving memory of Nellie Trexler by Ken and Janet Trexler, $200
• In memory of Ryan Olsen, Juanita Hovis, Joe and Juanita Olsen by Vickie Olsen and Mike Olsen, $100
• In memory of our parents by Larry and Sandra McKenize, $400
• Georgette and Conan, $150
• In loving memory of Homer Cannon, $100
• In loving memory of Sue L. Clark by Joe G. Clark, Sr., $100
• In memory of Eva Sloop by Crawford Sloop, $100
• In loving memory of Millie Howard, wife, mother and grandma by Larry, Tammy, Brian, Amy, Zorda, Zarod, Bailey, Zain and Reilly, $100
• In memory of our neighbor Jonathan Swink by Dana and Jan Samuelson, $25
• In memory of sweet husband, Clancy Bostian by Ann Stoner Bostian, $100
• In memory of Betty Hoffman Arey by Johnny Arey, $100
• In loving memory of Haywood and Louise Basinger and Charlie and Etta Eagle by Carl and Dottie Eagle, $100
• In loving memory of Betty Tesh by Don and The Tesh Family, $200
• In memory of my husband, Wiley G. Morgan by Elizabeth Morgan, $100
• In memory of deceased brothers of Eureka Lodge No. 45-Psalm 133 by Eureka Lodge No. 45, $100
• In memory of Hoytt and Ann Heilig by Don and Phyllis Heilig and Tony and Patty Heilig, $200
• In honor of our grandchildren: Olivia, Sophia, Cooper and Avery Doty by PawPaw and MeMe Doty, $100
• Anonymous, $35
• In memory of Oscar and Hazel Garver, missed by all by Dale and Kathy Watson, $100
Total $8,130
Running Total $26,371.15
