The pickleball community was going to make sure this one was memorable.
When Dr. David Mandelbaum started the Making Memories Classic, he envisioned a way to bring the community together around the game of pickleball while raising money in support of dementia patients and their families. He was inspired by his parents, who both suffered from the disease.
The inaugural year saw more than 200 people sign up, and the following year brought even more interest.
The third iteration of the pickleball tournament is proving to be the biggest one yet.
“It’s overwhelming because, two years when this popped into my head as something we could do, I never thought we’d see it get to this magnitude of involvement, of popularity with people,” Mandelbaum said.
The Making Memories Classic will take over Greenwood’s Freedom Park from Aug. 16 to 18, bringing together die-hard picklers with beginners looking for a good time and a chance to learn more about the game. Organizers have signed up nearly 400 players — a 50% increase in participation from last year and cementing the tournament among pickleball players in central Indiana.
After raising more than $82,000 in the first two years of the event, Mandelbaum is anticipating a significant jump in donations to support Alzheimer’s disease research, programs and education.
“It’s so gratifying and so heart-warming to see everyone rally around this cause,” Mandelbaum said. “All I can think about is my parents, but on a bigger scale, I think about how many people have been impacted by this. I feel like we’re making a difference.”
And the whole community is invited to come out and help celebrate at the at the newly-built pickleball courts at Freedom Park. A kick-off party is planned 5 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 16, featuring food from Metro Diner, music by DJ Vinny Neff and a beer truck from MashCraft Brewing.
Free pickleball clinics will be availble for beginners, with sessions for up to 24 players at 5:30 and 6:30 p.m.
“It’s not just about pickleball — we want to make it like a ‘party in the park’ for our tournament,” Mandelbaum said.
The Making Memories Classic was born from Mandelbaum’s own experiences with dementia. Both of his parents were diagnosed with the condition, and he was their caregiver throughout their gradual decline.
“It left a lasting impact on me, going through their end of life journey as their oldest child,” Mandelbaum, a physician with a specialty in palliative and hospice medicine, said in May.
After his parents’ deaths, Mandelbaum was motivated to do more to highlight Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. He became active with the Greater Indiana chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, serving on its board of directors, and helping raise awareness and funding about the disease.
He learned about an initiative of the Alzheimer’s Association called the Longest Day. The idea was to create a fundraiser on the longest day of the year — the summer solstice. “Shine a light on the darkness of dementia” is the event’s slogan. Eventually, the event evolved to allow it to be held throughout the year.
Mandelbaum’s wife, Anna, had recently become a big pickleball fan. The more he learned about it, the more he saw a link between pickleball and his efforts with the Alzheimer’s Association.
Research has indicated that remaining physically active and socially active are two important factors in either delaying or preventing the onset of dementia. According to a study published on Aug. 10, 2022, in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, people who engaged in physical activity had a 17% lower risk of dementia. People who did social activities had a 7% lower risk.
The first Making Memories Classic was held in 2022, drawing 231 players and generating nearly $36,000. Making Memories surpassed that in 2023, with 255 people signed up raising more than $46,600.
This year’s event has surpassed them both — registration closed last week with 385 players, Mandelbaum said.
“Even if I wasn’t convinced of this beforehand, I’m becoming more convinced: I’ve had a few people tell me that the fact that it’s a fundraiser for such a great cause, the Alzheimer’s Association, and so many people have been touched in one way or another by the terrible scourge of dementia, that’s one of the attractions of this tournament,” Mandelbaum said. “We’re all in this together, trying to beat this disease.”
Registration for pickleball players is closed, but the community are still encouraged to come as spectators. The kick-off event and the tournament as a whole will ideally serve as a showcase for Freedom Park’s new pickleball courts, which opened in June.
People can come out to support the players, learn more about pickleball — and donate to help the Alzheimer’s Association.
“The concept was, how do we bring the community into this, to make them aware of these beautiful new pickleball courts and make them aware that this is a great fundraiser for a great cause,” Mandelbaum said.
IF YOU GO
Making Memories Classic
What: A fundraising pickleball tournament in support of the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Indiana.
When: Aug. 16-18
Where: Freedom Park, 850 W. Stop 18 Road, Greenwood
Kickoff party: The public is invited to celebrate the start of the tournament from 5-7:30 p.m. Aug. 16 with food provided by Metro Diner, music by DJ Vinny Neff and a beer truck from MashCraft Brewing. Free pickleball clinics will be offered for beginners; limit 24 players per session, with sessions from 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. Send your name to [email protected] to sign up.
How to donate: Go to The Longest Day website and search “Making Memories Classic.”
