The Road to the US Open.
The road is a season of tournament travel for Chicago Pickleball: Wheelie Big Dills, ending at the US Open in Naples in spring 2027. The US Open picks players by lottery, so nothing is guaranteed.
Every gift goes to the Hustle & Heart Fund for Chicago Pickleball: Wheelie Big Dills, every week first, then the road to the US Open. Money raised earlier for the US Open, the popcorn drive included, keeps its terms and stays on the road. How Giving Works.
Stop by stop.
Where the crew has competed this season, and where the road ends. The road’s budget is for the stops ahead.
- Aug 2026APP Vlasic Classic ChicagoHighland Park, ILThe first wheelchair division on the APP Tour. Juan asked for it, and five full teams played.First APP wheelchair division
- Oct 2026Monster SmashCincinnati, OHSix medals at The Pickle Lodge: two gold, two silver and two bronze, won by Juan, Bob, Robby, Ken and Amanda.6 medals
- Spring 2027The US OpenNaples, FLThe last stop, for athletes whose names come up in the lottery.The last stop
APP TourHighland Park, Aug 2026 Juan, singles goldMonster Smash, Cincinnati Bob, doubles goldMonster Smash, Cincinnati Robby, singles bronzeMonster Smash, Cincinnati Amanda, doubles bronzeMonster Smash, Cincinnati
The money goes where the matches are.
Many tournaments give athletes more matches for far less than the US Open. A tournament trip runs about $1,000 an athlete; one athlete’s US Open has cost about $3,500 the last couple of years. Funding a season, not one trip, reaches more of the crew.
Two of the athletes we support know the way: Robby Wolf has played three straight US Opens, and Brian Liss has won silver and bronze there.
It takes skill and a little luck to get to the US Open. It shouldn’t take money.
If an athlete’s name comes up, money shouldn’t be the reason they stay home. We want the best of the best in Naples.
What the road pays for.
$21,000 for the season: about 21 tournament trips at about $1,000 each. A trip is one athlete at one tournament.
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Entry fees
Registration and event fees, set by each tournament, the US Open included.
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Travel
Gas or flights, from Chicago to the courts.
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Accessible rooms
A room near the courts that works for a wheelchair.
How the support adds up.
Drives open and close, and gifts come in all year.
The road is part of one goal: $50,000 for Chicago Pickleball: Wheelie Big Dills in the year ahead, every week first. Equipment is raised one athlete at a time. After the road, our goal is the Chicago Classic.
Keep the crew rolling.
Your gift goes to the Hustle & Heart Fund: every week first, then entry fees, travel and accessible rooms at the stops ahead.
Every gift goes to Chicago Pickleball: Wheelie Big Dills, every week first, then the road to the US Open. Secure checkout by Givebutter.