Albany Area YMCA receives grant from Sumter EMC Foundation
Special Photo: Albany YMCA
From staff reports
AMERICUS — The Sumter EMC Foundation has donated $5,000 to the Albany Area YMCA to help fund the conversion of six tennis courts into pickleball courts. This grant will allow the YMCA to meet the growing demand for the popular sport.
Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the nation, combining elements of tennis, badminton and ping pong. With simple rules and playing on a small court with a plastic ball and paddles, pickleball appeals to all ages and abilities. The explosive growth has led to many public recreation centers adding pickleball facilities.
“The Sumter EMC Foundation aims to support healthy living and social connections that enrich lives,” Andrea Walker, chair of the Sumter EMC Foundation, said. “Pickleball is a great opportunity to get people moving and bring them together through sport. We are excited to help the YMCA expand their facilities to offer pickleball.”
The $5,000 grant will help cover the costs of painting and resurfacing the courts and equipment needed to play the game, such as nets, paddles and pickleballs. This grant exemplifies Sumter EMC’s commitment to boosting well-being through innovative community projects.
The Sumter EMC Foundation was founded in 2003 and is funded by cooperative members participating in Sumter EMC’s Operation Round Up. Every month Sumter EMC rounds up the electric bill of participating members to the following whole dollar amount and deposits the difference into an interest-bearing account.
The Sumter EMC Foundation’s board of trustees administers the funds through grants to local schools and civic and charitable organizations. These grants give 100% of the money collected to the community. The foundation has awarded more than $1,278,000 to community organizations in Sumter EMC’s service territory.
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