Day one of the APP Newport Beach Open was kicked off with a bang on Wednesday, June 28th. In addition to the amateur doubles competition taking place, the APP hosted Council on Aging, a local non-profit that offers free programming activities and counseling for senior citizens in the Los Angeles area. Council on Aging is especially dedicated to senior citizens living in isolation, suffering from depression, and going through grief, and offers them counseling and fun activities to help their mental health.
Pickleball has become one of the favorite activities of the Council on Aging participants, and 13 eager pickleball players, both volunteers and those who benefit from the Council, showed up for a special clinic led by Ken Herrmann, the founder of the APP Tour. Herrmann ran drills, and worked on various strokes and footwork with the group, in his usual, up-tempo style. Some of the participants have been playing pickleball for years, whereas some are relatively new to the sport. Regardless of playing ability, there was plenty of laughter, a good workout, and a great time enjoyed by all.
“Oh yeah, it was great. These two [pros] were very good. They keep it not only informative but they keep it fun, you know, and so nobody’s embarrassed. Like me,” laughs Gary Dreyfuss, one of the clinic participants who started playing pickleball 15 years ago.
Council on Aging puts on a charity event each year called the Pickleball Slam, which was held just last week at the Tennis and Pickleball Club at Newport Beach, the site of the APP Newport Beach Open, and the venue is actually how both organizations were connected.
“We’re so impressed because I had no idea the whole scope and range of APP and what’s involved, and to see all the players out here with such great enthusiasm, and I love all the different brackets and the fact that you have levels that are age-appropriate as well as level-appropriate,” says Jamie Cansler, the director of development for Council on Aging - Southern California. “I think it’s just a little more fair and it lets everybody shine no matter what age or levels they’re at.”
In addition to pickleball, Council on Aging offers a plethora of resources and activities, including educational classes, pottery and jewelry-making classes, as well as other exercise programs such as water aerobics and balancing. They offer programming in seven different languages across five different Southern California counties. The Council on Aging has 92 employees and more than 500 volunteers who provide services and programs in their communities.
“I think the important thing is to not forget our older adults because it’s very easy to want to help children’s charities or health-oriented charities or education. But I have discovered, to my horror, that older adults are overlooked and everyone feels like, well, they’ve already lived their lives,” explains Cansler, who is looking forward to learning pickleball herself. “But what they have done is they have paid taxes, they’ve gone to war, they’ve done all the things for the freedoms we all have here. Their taxes have built the infrastructure, have built the the roads and built the rest of it. And now they’re on the lack of earning capacity.”
Founded in 1973, the Council on Aging - Southern California has helped older adults stay healthy, connected, and protected. In honor of their 50th Anniversary, please consider a gift of $50 or more at www.coasc.org/donate.
