Earlier this year, Erin McCullough attended a Personal Success Institute seminar on Oahu, where she was challenged to set a goal and achieve it. The Kona resident was immediately drawn to a cause dear to her heart — ending hunger.
McCullough, who owns Kona Clean Sweep, has an bachelor’s of arts degree in psychology, with an emphasis on child development. After graduating from San Francisco State University, she taught high school students with special needs. That experience and her knowledge taught her the importance of proper nutrition, especially for developing children.
“It breaks my heart that America is one the richest countries in the world,” she said. “And yet tonight, thousands of people, including children, will go to bed hungry. It’s a fact I can’t live with and want to try to do something about.”
Her goal was first to collect 500 cans of food for The Food Basket, the Big Island’s food bank, in 14 days. She raised more than 700 cans in 10 days, which inspired her to try to do more. A tennis player, McCullough decided to use the sport to take a swing against hunger and make a big impact. She set a $50,000 goal for The Food Basket and decided to hold a benefit tennis tournament.
McCullough began talking with her friends, who have experience organizing such tournaments and discovered most raise $5,000 to $10,000. So she added a family-friendly circus-themed gala dinner, as well as founded in May the Love & Peas Foundation. She enlisted the help of other volunteers, friends and sponsors.
The result: the inaugural Love & Peas Tennis Tournament and Festival, happening this month at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. The purpose is to raise funds to support The Food Basket. All of the proceeds will go to the food bank, McCullough said.
Officials from The Food Basket could not be reached at press time Wednesday.
The two-day tennis tournament, featuring a variety of doubles matches, takes place at the resort’s tennis courts. The cost to participate is $50 for a single event and $75 for two events. The tournament will likely begin at 7:30 a.m. Oct. 20 and 21, but the start depends on the total of competitors. The deadline to register for the tournament is Monday. Competitors will receive lunch and have the opportunity to win prizes through skill contests.
In the grassy area left of the tennis courts will be a festival offering up to 40 art, jewelry, flowers and food booths. There will also be live entertainment and a keiki zone, complete with a bouncy house, petting zoo, face painting and other activities. The festival is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 20 and 21. Interested vendors should contact the foundation as soon as possible because only 10 spaces remained as of Tuesday, McCullough said.
A gala dinner, costing $100 per person for general seating, promises a Cirque du Soleil-esque act, magic and mystery gifts. The event begins at 7 p.m. Oct. 20 at the hotel’s oceanfront luau grounds. Tables for parties of 10 are also available.
Following its first event, the Love & Peas Foundation will work toward becoming a 501(c)(3) organization. It will continue to strive to inspire generations through love and tennis to rid American communities of hunger problems in a fun and healthy way. The foundation plans to provide more tournaments, festivals and events to raise funds that support local food banks so that they are at a surplus. It also wants to create other avenues so the cycle that creates hunger does not continue and hunger in the United States ends, McCullough said.
“I know we’re in a difficult economy, but for me, I feel so much better contributing something, whatever I can, big or small, to someone who needs it more than me,” she said. “I’m blessed with a great family. I have shelter and food. It just makes sense to me that to try to help those who cannot help themselves. Some of these people are hard-working families who can’t always afford the food they need.”
To attend, volunteer or for more information, call 937-3727 or visit loveandpeasfoundation.com.
