The Have Dreams
Charity Tournament
A community pickleball tournament raising awareness and funds for Have Dreams, advancing autism services across Chicagoland. In our first year, we raised just over $5,000.
Inspired by Jeff's youngest son.
The Have Dreams Charity Tournament was founded by club member Jeff Katz, whose youngest son is autistic. He inspired Jeff to create an event that would make more people aware of autism, introduce them to Have Dreams, and show how small things can add up to real help.
The idea was simple: bring our pickleball community together for a day of friendly competition, and turn that energy into awareness and support for families living with autism.
In its very first year, the tournament raised just over $5,000 for Have Dreams, and we plan to make it an annual tradition.
The team behind the day.
The tournament was organized by Tom Usher, Erin Brown, and Jeff Katz (left to right), with a huge assist from the Park Ridge Pickleball Club and many of its board members.
From running the brackets to staffing the raffle, food, and check-in tables, it was a true club-wide effort, exactly the kind of community spirit Have Dreams is all about.
Four divisions, three medals each
Players competed across four divisions, with gold, silver, and bronze medals awarded in every group.
Women's Doubles
Men's Doubles
Mixed Doubles
Open 4.0+
More than a game
Raise awareness
To help more people understand autism and the families living with it every day.
Support Have Dreams
To put real dollars behind a charity that advances autism services in our community.
Show small things matter
To prove that a single day on the courts can make a genuine difference.
The people who made it happen
A day like this runs on the people working behind the scenes. We are grateful to the volunteers who showed up early, stayed late, and kept everything moving.
Shelley Schwartz and Mary Szyjka ran the food table and sold raffle tickets all day. Tom Gawne donated much of the food that was sold. Dick Barton reffed many of the championship games, sold raffle tickets, and was one of our hardest working helpers. Megan Fleischel, who works with Have Dreams, captured the day in photos, and Bobbi Goldman, also with Have Dreams, hung signs, coordinated logistics, and did so much to help drive the event forward.
Thank you, all of you. We could not have done it without you.
Just over $5,000 for autism services.
Every entry, raffle ticket, and donation went toward Have Dreams, a nonprofit that empowers children, teens, and adults living with autism through innovative programs, skill development, and support services.
Beyond the dollars, the day did exactly what he inspired it to do: it got people talking, learning, and showing up for the autism community.
Learn about Have Dreams →
Thank you to our sponsors
We were lucky to have two great local partners on site for the day. Ace Pickleball Club and Fitness Formula Clubs each donated grand prizes that helped us raise even more for Have Dreams.
Thank you to Cece Trausch from Ace Pickleball, and Mark Gomez and Eric Morrison from FFC, for showing up, supporting the cause, and helping make the day a success.
Moments from the day
We're just getting started.
Thank you to everyone who played, donated, volunteered, and cheered. We're planning to run the Have Dreams Charity Tournament again next year, and grow it.