MARIN COUNTY, CA — A Marin County high school student who has raised more than $90,000 through a sports-based philanthropy platform is preparing for her latest fundraiser, this time benefiting women and children in Uganda.
Olivia Shekou, a senior at The Branson School, is partnering with San Rafael resident and longtime Marin philanthropist Melissa Prandi to host Paddles for Purpose on Saturday at Flyte Racquet Club in San Rafael.
The event is the latest organized through Netting Miracles, a platform Shekou founded to help students turn tennis, pickleball and padel events into fundraisers for causes they care about.
What began with a single pickleball fundraiser for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has since grown into an effort working with students and nonprofit organizations across the country. Shekou has now raised more than $90,000 through Netting Miracles, according to information provided by the organization.
Rather than organizing every fundraiser herself, Shekou created a system that other students can use to launch their own events. The platform provides fundraising resources, event frameworks, sponsorship guidance and connections with nonprofit organizations.
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