Intermountain Centers is offering pickleball enthusiasts the opportunity to become ace fundraisers for underserved and disabled youth through Pickle Palooza, a mission-driven benefit and awareness event from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 18 at Corbett’s, 340 N. 6th Ave.
Proceeds will benefit Intermountain Centers workforce development programs, supporting youth with disabilities and young adults aging out of foster care and entering the workforce.
“Workforce readiness, especially for vulnerable youth populations, remains one of the most pressing concerns facing young people today, and is strongly correlated with the adverse mental health conditions we see afflicting youth in higher numbers than ever before. We want to give them the skills they need to go out into the workforce,” said Paul O’Rourke, Vice President of Development & Communications for Intermountain Centers.
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He emphasized that the goal with all Intermountain programs, which serve more than 20,000 clients of all ages annually statewide, is to create folks who are “contributing members of our society.”
“We look at each one of our members, identify their individual strengths and then build on those strengths,” said O’Rourke.
Programs include group homes for adults and children, apartment compounds where staff provide daily support for clients, transitional housing for the working homeless and foster care programs.
Beyond residential programming, Intermountain also provides 31 locations statewide that offer behavioral health and integrated care services in order to offer both convenience and a higher level of care coordination.
The upcoming fundraiser creates a rallying point around youth who come from challenging backgrounds while also promoting a great set of values and positive mental health, according to O’Rourke.
“This event is an opportunity for us to continue turning the tide on the rising challenges young people grapple with today. Support in the form of attendance, donations, or bidding on our auction items enables us to make this night the success we know it can be and continue dreaming big for the populations who need us most,” he said.
