CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) — For students at the University of Illinois, Sunday was a big "dill." The second annual Illini Get Pickled Charity Pickleball Tournament was held in Huff Hall, serving up a friendly competition for a great cause.

"Everything we raise, goes to the kids..." shared Carson Bounds, Co-Organizer of the tournament. With every sponsor and team that registered to play, the money was donated to Cunningham Children's Home.

Illini pickleball tournament

Cunningham is a nonprofit organization in Urbana that works with youth and families through residential treatment, special education and community-based services. 

"That's kind of the mission today; to just raise money for a good cause and have fun doing it!" Bounds added.

Tournament director, Gavin Khristopherson, shared that with this only being their second year, they've already grown their volunteers and players. He noted, they raised $7,500 dollars to go towards their charity.

This student-run and led event, hopes to continue allowing college students to engage with the local community.

Professor Michael Raycraft, Commissioner of the Tournament, is proud of his students for putting this together for their town. 

"For them to interact with all these people and learning how to run a large, philanthropic event, and talking about things  we use in the classroom... is really invaluable," Raycraft says. 

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