Durrant Pate/Contributor

It was a smooth start to the inaugural “Do Good” Pickleball Tourney hosted jointly by One Great Studio (1GS) and Myers, Fletcher & Gordon (MF&G). 

Held on Saturday, September 20, at Pickle & Chill, 13 East Kings House Road, Kingston 6, the event brought together over 40 of Jamaica’s most influential companies with leaders from financial services, media, law, insurance, automotive, manufacturing and entertainment, marketing, and digital innovation participating through cash donations, product contributions, and team entries. 

The tournament was more than an afternoon of sport, but it was a celebration of collaboration, wellness, and the transformative power of giving back. In total, over J$2 million was raised, which will be allocated to Jacks Hill Primary and Infant School and Higholborn Street Basic School, providing vital resources to enhance students’ education and well-being.

Multi-sector collaboration 

Far from being just a sporting competition, the “Do Good” Pickleball Tourney showcased the true potential of multi-sector collaboration. With the support of its main sponsors, STL Solar, Sterling Asset Management, Sagicor Investments, and Fraser Fontaine & Kong, the event demonstrated how strategic partnerships can drive meaningful social impact while fostering connections across industries. 

Team Xodus emerged as the winners, with Team STL Solar securing second place and Team JMMB Pick finishing third. The “Do Good” Pickleball Tourney also highlighted the potential for sport to play a leading role in social responsibility.

By leveraging the accessibility and growing popularity of pickleball, the event encouraged broader conversations around community support, wellness, and philanthropy.

Through this dynamic blend of sport, community, and philanthropy, the inaugural “Do Good” Pickleball Tourney has set a new standard for how fun, networking, and social impact can go hand in hand, leaving a lasting legacy for Jamaica’s students and inspiring future collaborations across sectors.

Partners pleased with inaugural event

Managing Partner of MF&G, Christopher E. Kelman, reflected on the significance of the initiative, saying, “We’re proud to support this initiative that demonstrates the incredible outcomes possible when diverse sectors collaborate. It’s inspiring to see business, law, and creative industries come together to uplift our schools and invest in the future of our children.”

For his part, Peter Azar, Co‑founder of Pickle & Chill Jamaica, emphasised the wider significance of the tournament, noting, “People who do for others as 1GS and MF&G are doing can only make Jamaica a better place. There is so much need in so many areas in our island, and there is nothing like sport to unite and help to foster the fundamentally important aspects of all our lives. If we all “Did Good”, we would be unstoppable.”

1GS CEO, Djuvane Browne reflected on the broader purpose of the event, emphasising, “At 1GS, we believe in using whatever we have in our hands to make a tangible difference in the lives of people around us. The Do Good Pickleball Tourney is a perfect example of how sports, networking, and Doing Good  can intersect to create meaningful impact for our communities.”  

For Gina DeLisser, Chief Operations Officer of 1GS, “this partnership with MF&G for the tournament really is a testament to the shared core values that matter to us. We may use different words to describe them, but at the heart of the ‘what we do’ & the ‘why we do’ in the service industry is people. People are at the heart of our service. Our clients and our teams are at the heart of this tournament. We have the privilege of using our platform, our network, our friendships, and our people to make a difference in these two schools, Jacks Hill Primary & Infant School and Higholborn Street Basic School.”

Continuing, she shared, “The contributions garnered in aid of this are not a small thing for these promising, gifted and precious kids, and their dedicated, often under-appreciated and under-resourced teachers & principals. The effort and support today speak volumes to them. We are not forgotten. Someone sees us. Someone cares.”

About the competition

The “Do Good” Pickleball Tourney is a one-of-a-kind corporate charity event that merges wellness, networking, and philanthropy in support of Jacks Hill Primary School and Higholborn Street Basic School. With players grouped into competitive brackets, attendees experience a high-energy afternoon that blends professional networking with community upliftment. 

The event’s mission is rooted in channelling the collective power of corporate influence to support under-resourced schools, provide strategic brand visibility in a purpose-driven context, and demonstrate the impact of multi-sector collaboration.