Pints and Paddle Serves Up Support for Children’s Respite Care

For lovers of the game, there is a whole new reason to celebrate. This past July, state of the art pickleball facility Pints and Paddle in Maple Grove, Minnesota, hosted a fundraiser for a children’s respite care center. Crescent Cove, the first of its kind in the Midwest, “provides care and support to children with shortened life expectancies and to their families who love them,” says Jenny Floria, Engagement and Communications Manager of the respite center.  “We don’t focus on the diagnosis, we focus on what the child needs. Our nursing motto is to make every day the best day ever for every child.”

Kids who have a respite stay at Crescent Cove enjoy rides on a pontoon, pet therapy, arts and crafts, in addition to their daily medical care. Parents and caretakers can rest easy, knowing their kids are in the hands of professionals. “These children are receiving advanced nursing care 24 hours a day. They have a great time and their parents get to finally take a break.” says Jenny.

Tammy Skaja, co-founder and owner of Pints and Paddle, was happy to donate the space for the fundraiser. The inspiration behind Pints and Paddle was simple: “We have long winters and hot humid summers and we felt like this would be a great addition to our community.” What’s more, Pints and Paddle Taproom Restaurant is not your average bar. The menu features ahi tuna bowls, steak sandwiches and more than two dozen self-serve beers on tap as well as cider, seltzer and a variety of wine.

(Picture Monica Butler)

“Because pickleball is so social, we felt it was really important to have a gathering space,” Tammy says. The genius of the space isn’t just that its high ceilings are professional grade or that its 10 indoor courts afford you the opportunity to play year round, but also that the space can be used to support a great cause like Crescent Cove. 

My friend Mandie and her mom Rachel and I

Players of all skill levels enjoyed friendly competition and even professional instruction during the fundraiser. Matt Haugdahl, professional pickleball player and director of operations at Pints and Paddle is thrilled to be on board. “Pretty much since birth I always had a ball in my hand. I always wanted a career in sports. It’s a dream come true, hands down.” Although he is relatively new to the game – like many others who caught on during the Pickleball boom of 2020, Haugdahl plays professionally and is sponsored by Selkirk. Meanwhile, he instructs and runs operations at Pint and Paddle. “It’s unbelievable, It still hasn’t hit me yet because I’ve been so busy. I love it here, I plan to stay here for a very long time.”

Matt Haugdahl (Picture Monica Butler)

The same energy radiated from all those in attendance, augmented by the love of the game and the support of a worthwhile cause. At Crescent Cove, “we focus on making it a place of light and joy,” says Jenny. What could be a more winning combination than that?

Event Spaces

For more information on Pints and Paddle, go to https://pintsandpaddle.com/

For more information on Crescent Cove or to donate, go to https://crescentcove.org/