By Pat Wilson

You do not need a polished golf swing or a regular pickleball partner to put this Sunday outing on your calendar. The Birmingham Education Foundation is bringing neighbors together for an afternoon where trying a game, sharing a meal, and supporting local classrooms belong on the same itinerary.

Its Paddle + Par fundraiser takes place Sunday, October 25, 2026, from 4–7 p.m. at 31535 Southfield Road in Beverly Hills. The important planning detail comes sooner: the registration page lists Tuesday, October 20, as the closing date. Make the decision with your friends before event weekend arrives.

New players have a place here

This is casual open play, with optional beginner instruction during the first hour and skills competitions afterward. The school announcement names Paddle + Par instructor and retired Groves teacher Jeff Hatley and district administrator Susan Smith for the introductory session.

If you have been curious about pickleball but reluctant to turn up without knowing the rules, that opening session gives the afternoon a useful starting point. Plan to be there near the beginning if instruction is what interests you. You can bring your questions without having to arrive as the strongest player in your group.

The $75 ticket includes access to pickleball, golf simulators, and table tennis during the three-hour event. That gives a group with different sporting interests more than one way to spend the afternoon. A friend who prefers a golf swing to a paddle can still share the outing.

There is time for dinner and conversation

Food is part of the ticket: the announcement lists a pizza-and-salad buffet and a beverage ticket. Raffle prizes and skills competitions are also advertised. Avoid treating the price as a promise of unlimited drinks or guaranteed prizes; follow the organizer’s event information when planning your spending.

The school’s announcements describe the fundraiser as adults-only. Make this a grown-ups’ catch-up, and arrange childcare separately if needed. For questions about equipment, accessibility, food requirements, or how activities will be organized, contact BEF before booking.

The reason to play is close to home

Although the venue is in nearby Beverly Hills, the beneficiary is directly connected to Birmingham families: the school announcement says funds raised support teacher grants district-wide.

BEF’s grant program backs classroom ideas and programs outside regular school or district budgets. Its areas of support include academics, the arts, athletics, technology, and character education. The fundraiser is a way to contribute to that work while spending time with other community members.

That is a more concrete reason to attend than simply adding another social event to a busy month. Invite a neighbor, a school friend, or someone who has been meaning to try an indoor game, and let the shared purpose make choosing a date easier.

Book the fundraiser, then make your plan

Use the BEF event registration page rather than a standard court reservation on the venue’s website. It lists a single ticket at $75 and a two-person option at $150. For assistance, the school announcement directs readers to BEF executive director Kathy Zanolli at (248) 203-3030.

Agree on who is attending, complete registration before the posted deadline, and save the Beverly Hills address. Then leave room for a new game and a conversation you would otherwise keep postponing.