Guide for sponsors

Sponsor an athlete in Chicago.

Sponsor court time, training or travel to tournaments for wheelchair pickleball athletes in the Chicago area. Partner support goes to the Hustle & Heart Fund, and we pay clubs and vendors directly or reimburse approved expenses.

  • $225a night of court time for up to 15 athletes
  • $1,548a year of training for one athlete
  • 334,000views in 90 days across Instagram and Facebook
Donate Talk to us about sponsoring

Who you’d be sponsoring

Chicago Pickleball: Wheelie Big Dills is a crew of wheelchair pickleball players in the Chicago area, and Adapt To Life is proud to fund and support them. Brian Liss has won silver and bronze at the US Open, and Robby Wolf has played the last three. At Monster Smash in October 2026 they brought home six medals. Their first ambassador, Juan Ortiz, asked the APP Tour for its first wheelchair division, and got it.

What a sponsorship pays for

  • Sponsor a night, $225: one night on court for up to 15 athletes.
  • Sponsor an athlete, $1,548 a year: a year of unlimited sessions for one athlete.
  • Train to Compete, presented by you, $15,480 a year: a year of unlimited sessions for ten athletes, with your name on the program.

Businesses can also choose a partnership level. Teammate, $1,000, is about one tournament trip. Champion, $21,000, is a season on The Road to the US Open. A Founding Partner, from $50,000, puts its name on the whole year ahead, with first call on naming the Chicago Classic once it has a date. See the levels.

Where the athletes play

The athletes play at clubs we partner with: ACE Pickleball Club in Des Plaines, Brick House Pickleball in Lake Forest and The Picklr in Mount Prospect. The clubs host the play. Where we fund court time, funding is planned at the club’s regular rates. We call it the Open Court Model.

What you get back

  • Your name, seen by new people: about 334,000 views in 90 days on Instagram and Facebook, and more than 9 in 10 Instagram views come from people who don’t follow us yet.
  • Content: video and athlete spotlights with your name on them. Our Monster Smash spotlights drew more than 38,000 views.
  • Proof, every month: a short recap with attendance, views and results.

How to start

Tell us what you’d like to sponsor and we’ll shape it with you. Individuals can give any amount to the fund with the Donate button below.

Questions

The short answers.

How much does it cost to sponsor an adaptive athlete?

A night of court time for up to 15 athletes is $225. A year of training for one athlete is $1,548. Businesses can also choose a partnership level, starting at $1,000 for about one tournament trip.

Where does sponsorship money go?

Sponsorships go to the Hustle & Heart Fund. A level that puts your name on a part, like court time or the road, pays for that part, and each part carries one sponsor’s name at a time. If that part is already paid for, in full or in part, the money it doesn’t need goes to the rest of the goal, and we tell you where before you give. Other sponsorships and gifts fill every week first, then the road to the US Open. Adapt To Life pays clubs and vendors directly or reimburses approved expenses.

Is a sponsorship tax deductible?

Adapt To Life is a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 41-3213344. Sponsorships may be tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Some levels include benefits, so check with your tax advisor.

Do you run the program?

No. The clubs host the play and the crew brings the players. Adapt To Life funds court time, memberships, equipment and travel.

Help an athlete play

Every gift goes to the fund.

The Hustle & Heart Fund pays for equipment, training and travel for the athletes we support.

Donate Talk to us about sponsoring

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