A pickleball tournament that raised more than $70,000 for Make-A-Wish returns to Cornelius on Sunday, Nov. 15.
The second annual Paddles for Wishes fundraiser will take place at The Serve Pickleball + Kitchen on Chartown Drive, according to the organization's event page. Make-A-Wish Central and Western North Carolina is billing the tournament as a chance for pickleball players to support wishes for children with critical illnesses.
Last year's inaugural event generated enough money to help grant seven wishes, Kathy Jetton, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish Central and Western North Carolina, said during an appearance on WSIC's Good Morning LKN on Oct. 23. Jetton said the Lake Norman community can get involved by volunteering, fundraising or donating ahead of the tournament.
The nonprofit serves 51 counties across North Carolina and has been granting wishes for more than 40 years, according to the organization.
The Serve Pickleball + Kitchen, located at 20220 Chartown Drive, opened in fall 2025 as an indoor-outdoor sports and dining complex. The facility features 16 pickleball courts, split between six outdoor and 10 indoor, along with four Topgolf Swing Suite bays and a full-service restaurant. Jack and Robin Salzman, the facility's founders, broke ground on the complex on May 31, 2024, according to the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce.
Residents interested in playing, volunteering or donating can visit nc.wish.org for details on the Nov. 15 event.
Coming up around Lake Norman
- Sunday, Nov. 15 — Paddles for Wishes pickleball tournament, The Serve Pickleball + Kitchen, 20220 Chartown Drive, Cornelius. Details at nc.wish.org.
