The 2023 Jammin' for Joy was an enormous success!! On August 11-13th we welcomed 250 players to The Courts at Bent Tree for three days of fiercely fun competitive pickleball. In developing Jammin' for Joy we’ve sought to build a unique experience for our pickleball playing friends with the hope they mark their calendars each year that this is the one tourney they won’t miss. "This is not the Tournament where you play with the pro's it's the Tournament where you get treated like one." -Steve Lowe.
Each registered player received a player pack loaded with goodies, and the opportunity to win great door prizes for each event they participated in. We held raffles throughout each day with some high quality paddles. These were a huge hit with people checking their tickets all day. In addition to all of this we provided a first class lunch each day led by Jasper’s own Hans Rueffert, a fellow pickler, and great snacks, drinks and hospitality provided by 70+ Bent Tree friends and volunteers.
Jammin' for Joy included Women’s Doubles played on Friday, Mixed Doubles on Saturday and Men's Doubles on Sunday. We had medals awarded for 30 different divisions divided up by skill & age. There was really fierce competition all three days. While we were having all this FUN!! Over $29,000 was raised to make a difference in the lives of those we serve at The Joy House.
Key to building this incredible experience for our players was our 25+ sponsors. We would like to especially recognize our seven high-level sponsors: Presenting Sponsor – Kiker Wealth, Shirt Sponsor – Dink, Shirt Sponsor – 1-800-Packouts, Cooler Sponsor – Woodstock Church Jasper, Towel Sponsor – Terry Ho’s Yum-Yum, Food Sponsor – Coldwell Banker – High Country Realty – Tina Mabry, Food Sponsor – Tate Medical, and Medal Stand Sponsor – Southland, Raffle Sponsor – Talona Ridge R.V. Resort. In addition to all of these we had 20 Court Sponsors. We would also like to give special recognition to courts professional Bob Coleman, Bent Tree for hosting our event, and Bent Tree Security for working tirelessly with parking each day of the Tournament. They were a pleasure to work with.
We actually turned players away this year because we didn’t have space for them. We’re already thinking and dreaming about next year and how we can continue building on the success of the past three years to make this a premier pickleball tournament. Save the date for next years Jammin' for Joy Tourney August 9-11 2024. We’re grateful to God and all the players, volunteers, and sponsors who have partnered with us to make this such a successful fundraising event for The Joy House!!! |
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| We are so thankful for each of you that participated in our 2023 Jammin' for Joy Tourney. As you know we take many photos of the Tourney and would like to share them with all of you. Below are links to hundreds of photos taken throughout the three days. We hope you enjoy looking through them as much as we did. |
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For my family, we’ve come to know the all encompassing grace of God. Isn’t it amazing how he doesn’t remember our beginnings but places more emphasis on our fresh start? In Ecclesiastes 7:8 he says, “The end of a matter, is better than it’s beginning, and patience is better than pride”. The Joy-house has offered our daughter AND us an inside look into how our father sees us, sees our future, our opportunities, our potentials. Isn’t that awesome news? In Isaiah 43:18-19 he says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
Having an accountability team that rallies around your family and not only teaches these concepts but lives them thru action is paramount to life change! We thank God for The Joy-House staff and their obedience to Gods calling on their lives, because it has made ALL the difference in ours. |
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For many years we’ve served more teens & families from Cherokee county through our teen-residential program than any other county. A significant percentage of our clients through our counseling center are also from Cherokee county. It is our desire to continue developing more partners from Cherokee county. Toward that end we’re excited to announce our first ever Cherokee banquet. Our banquet will be held on Tuesday September 26th at the historic Rock Barn in Canton with Woodbridge Tavern catering our meal.
We realize that it is difficult for some of our Cherokee county friends to make the drive to SharpTop Cove for our annual banquet, so we’re coming to you. We need some of our existing Cherokee partners to serve as table hosts and invite your friends for a night of food, fellowship, celebration, and inspiration. Our prayer is that many will catch a vision for the work the Lord has called us to and choose to partner with us as we bring Christ’s hope and healing to all those we serve. As part of our evening, we will present an opportunity for our guests to give as they are led by the Lord.
Serving as a table hosts simply means you invite guests to fill a table of eight. If you would like to serve as a table host please simply email me (steve@thejoyhouse.org) letting me know. If you and guests would simply like to attend you can RSVP here.
We hope several of you will join us for this inaugural event as we continued to seek to make a difference in the lives of those we serve. |
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