Battle Creek, Michigan is the cereal capital of the world and home to the Cereal City Pickleball Club. Cereal City Pickleball is a non-profit club “dedicated to organizing and promoting pickleball in the Battle Creek area.” The founding members started the CCPC in hopes of forming a competitive pickleball community with diverse programming options like lessons, tournaments, and community outreach events. The CCPC has a mission to “enhance the health and welfare of the general public by encouraging, organizing, and promoting the development and growth of pickleball.” The folks at the CCPC are fulfilling their mission through programs like the CPCC grant program which provides pickleball equipment and instruction for various local communities.
In 2022, Donnie Speck started the CCPC as a “spin-off” of the Battle Creek Pickleball Club. Speck and his five partners wanted a more competitive, active pickleball community, so they started it themselves.
After two years of growth, the CCPC now has 220 members and a plethora of available court locations. Members of the CCPC have various indoor-play options like Minges Creek Athletic Club, the Battle Creek YMCA, and the Picklehouse in Richland, Michigan. For outdoor pickleball, players go to the public courts at Kellogg Community College. The CCPC has an ongoing, positive relationship with KCC. In the Summer of 2022, the CCPC raised $20,000 towards refurbishing the courts at KCC. Their fundraising paid off: “We now have 12 courts which are full most of the spring, summer, and fall at various times throughout the day. We offer gameplay 7 days per week, on mornings, afternoons, and evenings.”
Since the CCPC’s inception, its members have effected many constructive changes. Early on, they applied for and attained 501c3 status which exempts them from the federal income tax. They’ve elected a club executive board, launched a membership program, and garnered a deep roster of sponsors. In terms of gameplay, the CCPC has offered lessons, open-play, ladders, tournaments, and social events. In an effort to reach out to their community, the CCPC applied for a youth grant in 2022 geared towards sharing pickleball with younger people in the area.
The CCPC grant program focuses on bringing pickleball to youth in area schools, though Speck and his partners hope to eventually “branch out to include adult offerings for the area.” The grant funding goes towards pickleball equipment for the kids—“paddles, pickleballs, nets, and instruction.” CCPC members also give of their time by traveling to a local school and teaching the students the fundamentals of pickleball.
The folks at the CCPC first put their grant into action by bringing pickleball to Harper Creek Middle School and introduced dozens of kids from ages 8-14 to the game of pickleball. Speck remarks, “The response was great. The youth that have participated have loved and enjoyed it, and some are still playing.”
The CCPC has hopes to expand its outreach to both younger players and adults. Expansion may include a more wide-reaching youth league: “We hope to have a youth league soon and expand into all the area schools.” CCPC members hope that their efforts will ultimately encourage families to play pickleball together as a lifelong activity.
Speck encourages non-profit club owners interested in applying for a grant to prioritize communication with local people involved in athletics: “I would suggest talking with area athletic directors, gym teachers, coaches, and other non-profit sports facility business owners.” Club owners should also find an experienced grant writer and take counsel with them.
Speck comments, “One of our main goals is to have a dedicated indoor pickleball facility in the Battle Creek area.” The CCPC has made progress towards its goal, but there is still a lot of work to be done: “It has been a slow process and there needs to be more awareness of the growth, popularity, and enthusiasm.” Speck predicts that the newly dedicated pickleball will result in an “economic boom” for the city.
For those interested in starting a non-profit pickleball community, Speck leaves a couple of pieces of advice. First, “Surround yourself with leaders.” He strongly encourages new club owners to seek out trustworthy, supportive individuals to partner with. Also, find people who know how to organize. Speck recommends flexibility and open-mindedness to change because change leads to growth.
As the CCPC spreads pickleball through the cereal city, players hope that a good game of pickleball will be as easy to come by as a crunchy bowl of cereal.
