California student raises over $90,000 after launching pickleball fundraiser
Olivia Shekou has successfully generated over ninety thousand dollars through her innovative sports philanthropy platform, known as Netting Miracles. Her initiative empowers students to spearhead fundraising events. Currently, she is gearing up for an exciting new fundraiser aimed at helping women and children in Uganda, scheduled to take place at Flyte Racquet Club in San Rafael. Her platform…
Olivia Shekou, a senior at The Branson School in Marin County, California, has successfully raised over $90,000 through her philanthropy platform called Netting Miracles. This sports-based fundraising system allows students to organize pickleball, tennis, and padel events for causes they support. Olivia, who is originally from Uganda, founded Netting Miracles after discovering the inclusive and community-building nature of pickleball.
Instead of managing each event herself, she developed a system that empowers other students to create their own fundraisers using Netting Miracles' resources, event frameworks, and connections with nonprofit organizations. Olivia's latest fundraiser, Paddles for Purpose, will take place on Saturday at Flyte Racquet Club in San Rafael, with the goal of supporting education and empowerment initiatives for women and children in Uganda.
The event is a collaboration with San Rafael resident and philanthropist Melissa Prandi. Olivia has previously hosted several successful events at Flyte Racquet Club, including a tournament raising nearly $16,000 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Netting Miracles has also expanded beyond Marin, operating in 17 states and supporting St. Jude.
Olivia is a 2026 peer advisor for the St. Jude Leadership Society's national cohort and received the Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award for her philanthropic work.
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