Hundreds of pickleball fans and players attended the Pouncey Tract Park Pickleball Courts as Glen Allen, VA, held its inaugural tournament last weekend.
The Body Armor 804 Open
The Body Armor 804 Open was organized by Laaser’s Ladybug Society, a nonprofit organization that works with children and teens with mental health illnesses.
The tournament proceeds will go towards funding mental health initiatives at schools in the Richmond area.
Jon Laaser, the president and founder of Laaser’s Ladybug Society, said the event was “a smashing success as we stand here on the last day.”
He mentioned the 804 Open had been the largest event the organization had ever held, adding that bigger events bring greater proceeds.
The tournament attracted professional pickleball players from all over the country and featured bracket divisions tailored to different age groups and skill levels across singles and doubles competitions.
What set this event apart in the area was its inclusion of five Open Divisions: Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles, Men’s Singles, and Women’s Singles. Each division offered a remarkable $1,000 Gold Medal Cash Prize PER PLAYER, totaling a guaranteed cash prize pool of $9,999.
This guarantee was made possible by the generous support of the corporate partners backing the event.
To ensure fair play, all games in the Open Divisions had a dedicated referee.
Such substantial prize money meant the tournament attracted almost 400 players, with all participants receiving a tournament t-shirt and swag bag.
The event received sanctioning from USA Pickleball as an MMP+ event, adding to the tournament’s prestige and recognition.
Prize Money Breakdown
Men’s Doubles: (1st) $2,000; (2nd) $400; (3rd) $100
Women’s Doubles: (1st) $2,000; (2nd) $400; (3rd) $100
Mixed Doubles: (1st) $2,000; (2nd) $400; (3rd) $100
Men’s Singles: (1st) $1,000; (2nd) $200; (3rd) $49
Women’s Singles: (1st) $1,000; (2nd) $200; (3rd) $50
Glen Allen
Glen Allen, located in Henrico County, Virginia, is a census-designated place in the United States. According to the latest available data from the 2020 Census, the population of Glen Allen was recorded as 16,187 residents.
Laaser’s Ladybug Society
Laaser’s Ladybug Society was founded in March 2022 by co-founders Jon and Renée Laaser. Their vision encompasses two primary missions: combating the stigmas surrounding mental health through educational initiatives and actively fundraising to support this objective.
Through their efforts, they aim to bring about positive change and raise funds dedicated to addressing mental health challenges.
Their mission revolves around equipping public schools with the essential tools and personnel to educate and address the needs of the upcoming generation in our society.
Pickleball plays a big part in helping people’s health and well-being as we discussed recently in this article.
