Annual pickleball tournament promotes cardiac wellness in Great Lakes Bay Region

For the third year in a row, CMU’s Pulse3 Endowment, along with the College of Medicine and the Saginaw County Medical Society, hosted the Hearts and Paddles Pickleball Tournament in September at Garber Courts in Saginaw.

The 2-day event welcomed 260 pickleball players from around the region and included a Community Health Expo for participants and spectators, featuring free flu vaccines and a wide variety of wellness resources from more than 25 local health organizations.

Sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and supported by BWell Saginaw and the Urban Racquet Sports Foundation, the 2025 Hearts and Paddles tournament raised over $43,000 to help fund Pulse3’s cardiovascular initiatives in mid-Michigan.

“We are so excited to see how this event has grown over the last three years,” said Steve Vance, M.D., director of the Pulse3 Endowment.  “We are grateful for the continued support of our sponsors, the players and the community at large. Pickleball is quickly becoming a beloved American sport, with low barriers to entry.  It’s a great way for people of all ages to get active or stay active in pursuit of improved heart health.  Our Hearts and Paddles Tournament raises awareness and helps fund our cardiovascular initiatives."

The Pulse3 Endowment supports numerous cardiac wellness programs and partners with Project Adam and the MI HEARTSafe School Program to ensure that local schools and members of the school community are prepared to recognize and respond to the signs of sudden cardiac arrest.  Part of this work includes placing automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in schools and other community buildings.  Funds raised from last year's Hearts and Paddles event supported youth exercise and wellness programs in Saginaw, in addition to funding student research opportunities in the Great Lakes Bay Region.