Pickleball league gets county fee waiver for charity turkey-drive at Burton Wells

Brian Finland, a representative of Lowcountry Pickleball Leagues, told the Beaufort County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board that the league wants to host a second annual turkey-drive tournament at Burton Wells on Nov. 7–8 and donate nearly all proceeds to the food-distribution nonprofit 2nd Helpings.

Finland said the league’s volunteers ran earlier tournaments on a volunteer basis and provided reconciliations for past events. “We managed to raise $8,500 and donated that directly to 2nd Helpings,” Finland said, adding that the funds helped provide about 823 meals over Thanksgiving and Christmas combined. He also described canceling a prior tournament after a new registration platform crashed, and said the league’s fundraiser nevertheless raised substantial funds for distribution.

The board moved to grant a waiver of facility fees for the tournament. The motion, moved by a committee member and seconded by the chair, passed on a voice vote. The chair asked that the league provide another evaluation when it seeks future waivers.

Board members expressed support for the proposal as a worthwhile community fundraising use of county facilities. The chair said the board typically supports groups raising money for local charities and welcomed the league’s commitment to staying local.

The board approved the waiver and the league representatives left to attend to a family matter; the chair closed the item by wishing them safe travel. The league’s event will proceed pending any scheduling or facility requirements from Parks & Recreation and the league’s submission of the requested evaluation for future requests.