House of Hope Tournament Serves Up Howling Good Time

STUART, Fla. – An exciting blend of fierce competition, Halloween creativity, and community spirit made the 2025 edition of House of Hope’s annual Serve Some Hope Tennis & Pickleball Charity Tournament a howling success.

 

The weekend festivities kicked off on Halloween evening with a special Costumes and Cocktails event paired with the Mixed Doubles Tennis Invitational at the beautiful Harbour Ridge Yacht & Country Club. Men’s, Women’s and Doubles teams in both tennis and pickleball took to the courts on Saturday and Sunday, November 1 and 2, for fast-paced tournament  play. In all, 130 participants battled for bragging rights while raising more than $31,000 in donations.

 

“This event is always fun,  but its purpose – to raise funds that go directly into helping our friends and neighbors in need – has never been more serious,” said House of Hope CEO Rob Ranieri. “Between constantly rising prices and recent government cuts to benefits, many families right here on the Treasure Coast are struggling every day to put food on the table. We’ve experienced a 50% increase this year in the number of people needing our help, and the numbers keep growing.”

 

House of Hope reaches more than 30,000 people each month in Martin, St. Lucie, Okeechobee, and even parts of Vero and Palm Beach County, empowering them to overcome hunger and hardship. Last year alone, House of Hope distributed nearly 1.7 million pounds of food, including more than 600,000 pounds of fresh produce; allocated more than $266,000 in financial assistance; supported 30 area nonprofits with food and clothes closet items; and helped more than 40,000 individuals through its basic needs, food bank, enrichment, workforce development, financial assistance and nutrition education programs.

 

“A successful tournament depends on the work of a lot of people. We want to give a special shout-out to everyone at Harbour Ridge for giving us access to their beautiful location,” Ranieri said.

 

Tournament sponsors include Lichtenberger Family Charitable Fund at the Community Foundation Martin - St. Lucie, Harbour Ridge Yacht & Country Club, HBKS Wealth Advisors, Urban Abundance, Alan B. Miller Medical Center, Brigite & John Babine, Florida Power & Light Company, Sue Whittington (Travel Advisor) Ticket to Paradise Travel by Cruise One, Susan & Dave Yeager, The S.E.E.K. Group at Morgan Stanley, Ashley Capital, Conviva Care Center, Diadem Sports, Gerelco Electrical Contractors, Maureen M. Holley, DMD, South Florida Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, and Walter & Nancy Pribble."

 

A full recap of the winners in both the Men’s, Women’s and Mixed Doubles Divisions for Tennis and Pickleball is available on the House of Hope website,  hohmartin.org/servehope, and a photo album of the event has been posted on  facebook.com/Hohmartin/photos_albums.

 

“We congratulate all the participants,” Ranieri said, “not only for their skill and determination on the courts but also for giving their tremendous energy to helping the people we serve.”

 

To learn more about House of Hope or make a donation, visit House of Hope’s website at www.hohmartin.org or call 772-286-4673.

 

About House of Hope

Founded in 1984, House of Hope is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers Martin County residents to overcome hunger and hardship. House of Hope touches the lives of more than 30,000 people each month, helping with basic needs such as food, clothing, furniture, financial assistance, as well as longer-term case management services that help build life skills for a more self-sufficient future. 

 

The organization has service centers in Stuart, Hobe Sound, Indiantown, and Jensen Beach, with thrift stores in Stuart, Hobe Sound, and Indiantown. House of Hope’s Centers for Enrichment at Golden Gate in Stuart, in Jensen Beach, and at KinDoo Family Center in Indiantown offer free programs, technology, and workshops designed to enhance life skills, earning potential, health, and overall well-being.

 

House of Hope also operates the Growing Hope Farm in Palm City and several nutrition gardens that provide sustainable sources of fresh produce for clients as well as nutrition education and vocational opportunities to the community. For more information, visit hohmartin.org or call 772-286-4673. Updates and announcements can also be found on Facebook, Instagram, and X.