The Association of Pickleball Players (APP) and Victoria's Secret & Co. are joining forces for the inaugural APP Women’s Open presented by The James. The iconic global fashion brand will support the event’s primary missions of raising funds for breast cancer research and fueling the growth of pickleball among women and girls.
Coinciding with the historic event that will be the first of its kind in pickleball, Victoria’s Secret & Co. will be the presenting sponsor of the “Dream Big Summit,” a special panel designed to connect, inspire and uplift more than 100 young women – high school and college age – and create a conversation around self-advocacy and its importance when pursuing their passions. The global fashion brand will also support the event’s mission of raising funds for breast cancer research with a donation to the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research (SSF).
“The APP Women’s Open presented by the James is about so much more than pickleball,” said Shannon Dan, EVP of Global Partnerships for the APP. “It unites players around breast cancer awareness and aims to fuel growth of the game among women and girls. We are thrilled to collaborate with Victoria’s Secret to raise critical funds for the Stefanie Spielman Fund and hold this Dream Big Summit, which will introduce more young women to the sport and help them navigate through life with confidence.”
APP Broadcast Talent AJ McCord will moderate a powerful discussion with women leaders around self-advocacy in all aspects of life, including academics, business, sports, or personal health. The panel will feature insights from:
- Megan Fudge, World number one-ranked APP Tour women’s pro
- Electra Paskett, PhD, professor and director of the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control in the Department of Internal Medicine at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, deputy director for population sciences and community outreach, and founding director of the Center for Cancer Health Equity at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute
- Natalie McLean, Senior Designer, Victoria’s Secret & Co
- Lisa Hinkelman, PHD, Founder and CEO of Ruling Our eXperiences (ROX), author of the groundbreaking research report, The Girls’ Index™, and Girls Without Limits: Helping Girls Succeed in Relationships, Academics, Careers and Life
“As a brand committed to celebrating and supporting women, we’re incredibly proud to be a part of this unique, first-of-its-kind event,” said Leslie Nixon, AVP, Community Relations, Victoria’s Secret & Co. “Not only will it educate local young women about self-advocacy and empowerment in so many critical aspects of their lives, but it will also support The Stefanie Spielman Fund to improve healthcare outcomes for women—two causes that are pillars in our philanthropic work as a brand.”
Through the Dream Big Summit presented by Victoria’s Secret & Co. and various activations, the APP Women’s Open will support the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research at the OSUCCC – James. Since the Stefanie Spielman Fund was founded in 1998, more than $26 million has been raised by thousands of individuals, companies and charitable foundations in support of breast cancer research. The Spielman Fund funds cutting-edge research projects such as investments in digital pathology and the Spielman Genetic Tumor Bank, one of the nation’s largest breast cancer tissue and tumor repositories.
The APP Women’s Open presented by The James kicks off National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Oct. 4-6 tournament at Pickle & Chill in Columbus, Ohio, will be broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network. For tickets and more information, visit theapp.global. The pickleball community can stay in the know on the latest APP updates by following the APP’s Instagram, X, Threads, TikTok, Facebook and LinkedIn channels.
