KidWorks’ Women’s Pickleball for a Purpose Event Nets Over $95,000

Held April 3, the latest KidWorks Women’s Pickleball for a Purpose Event drew women who came to play for a great cause on the pickleball courts at The Tennis Club at Newport Beach Country Club.

The 2025 edition of the popular event netted a record $95,000 plus in support of KidWorks’ College Success Initiative™. Over the last few years, the nonprofit’s pickleball event has raised nearly $400,000. This year’s winning players were Newport Beach residents Margarita Gomez, Sherri Skillman, Shelley Ashen, and Keri Olson.

The highly successful fundraising initiative is the brainchild of KidWorks Women (KWW). The women’s volunteer auxiliary supports the important and transformative work of 30-year-old KidWorks as it provides students in under-resourced neighborhoods in central Santa Ana with holistic programs and experiences to become leaders both in and out of the classroom.

KidWorks College and Career Programs prepare first-generation college students for higher education beyond high school and includes the nonprofit’s College Apps Academy, Campus Crash, along with engagement with KidWorks college counselors, care packages for its college students, and more.

“We thank our generous supporters for helping to ensure that our deserving students will continue to benefit from robust college and career programs,” said KidWorks CEO and Executive Director David Benavides. “Activities like our College Apps Academy, Campus Crash, and mentorship programs are designed to prepare first generation, low-income students on their journey towards college and career success.”

The 2025 event committee members from Newport Beach were chair Debbie Trammell, along with Holly Anderson, Wendy Hafer Cox, Heather Gaughan, Beth Hallett, Lori Junkins, Susie Luer, Kirsten Minasian, Sharon Rinker, Sharon Roy, Jill Schriber, Kathy Ursini, and Kyle Team, who is a KidWorks Advisory Council member. Other event committee members were Janet DiChiro, C.C. Knowles, and Susan Machado, all of Corona del Mar, along with Betsy Flint of Laguna Hills, and Kim Carpenter of Dana Point.

Sponsors included Presenting Sponsor – The Gaughan Family; Court Sponsor – Oltmans Construction Co; Champions Of The Court - The Ammerman Family; Queens of the Kitchen – Catherine Frandsen, Wendy Hafer Cox, Schriber Family Fund, Kyle Team, Sandra Wirta, and Linda Young; Darling Dinkers – Beth Hallett and Siegel Family Trust; Lovely Lobbers – Access College, Sandra Ayres, Wendy Balden, Tammi Cluck, Susan Graham, Meghan Harris, Mitch and Lori Junkins-Veloz, Heidi Lynn, Jeri McKenna, Susan Machado, Charlotte Saydah, and Kathy Ursini. The wine sponsor was Zotovich Wines.

KidWorks goes the extra mile for the community, creating an environment for youth to unleash their potential with mentorship and leadership development resources for the entire family. Its diverse programs, coupled with intentional guidance, fuel internal growth and set KidWorks students up for a meaningful and fulfilling future and career. For over 10 years, 100% of KidWorks seniors have graduated high school on time and continued to higher education.

To learn more about KidWorks, please visit www.kidworksoc.org.

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About KidWorks

Since 1993, KidWorks has helped children, youth and families living in under-resourced neighborhoods in central Santa Ana, California. As a 501(C) (3) nonprofit, KidWorks makes an 18-year commitment to its students walking with students from “Pre-K through B.A.”

For over a decade, KidWorks celebrated that 100% of our high school seniors graduated on-time and all pursued higher education. We are also proud to report that 72% of our college students returned to school this fall. In addition to our traditional after-school programs, we added supplemental support to better serve the needs of our students and families.

To learn more about KidWorks and to read its success stories, please visit www.kidworksoc.org.