CHARITY EVENTS
Pongstarz has been at the forefront of charitable ping-pong themed events and fundraisers since 2010. Pongstarz CEO Kim Gilbert and pro players like Ioanna Papadimitriou and Diana Gee have supported and headlined fundraising events with Ping Pong for Charity annually since 2015. Kim and Ioanna even taught the very first table tennis class in public schools in U.S. History! The most promising sign for Pongstarz was to see that a majority of the class was high school girls, which has been a catalyst for more boys signing up! This is exactly what the future of this sport requires, more women!
PongStarz has also helped raise over $15 million for Los Angeles Unified School District, American Cancer Society, KIPP Bay Area Schools, Kershaw's Challenge, Topspin Charity, Ping Pong for Charity, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Midnight Mission, Red Cross, New Leaders Council Los Angeles, United Way, Wildlife Waystation, Planet Hope, Global Survival Network, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, and numerous sports, housing, and educational programs in Fiji, Nepal, Malawi, and Tbilisi, Georgia.
It is Pongstarz mission to continue these types of philanthropic efforts in 2018 and forward with an emphasis on environmental and climate issues, educational programs, and afterschool sports programs.
Pongstarz has participated in seven of the Making Strides for Breast Cancer fundraisers for American Cancer Society at the Santa Monica Pier, Staples Center, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, and Pacific City.
PongStarz pros Kim Gilbert and Ioanna Papadimitiou thrill crowds from schools to convention centers with their powerful smashes and trick shots while raising funds for Ping Pong for Charity to fight Alzheimer's Disease.
PongStarz pros Kim Gilbert and Ioanna Papadimitiou thrill crowds from schools to convention centers with their powerful smashes and trick shots while raising funds for Ping Pong for Charity to fight Alzheimer's Disease.
NBA/Duke Legend Christian Laettner serves it up with Pongstarz
While Pongstarz Pro Ioanna Papadimitriou and CEO Kim Gilbert headline attended the Annual Ping Pong for Charity Celebrity Slamfest in Virginia Beach, they also took time to teach the first Table Tennis Class in a public school in history.
Actor Terrence Howard and U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist Kim Gilbert share their vision while fundraising for Children's Hospital Los Angeles for SMASH Celebrity events.
Pongstarz teams up with pitcher Clayton Kershaw and celebrities to raise over $500K for Kershaw's Challenge at several annual Ping Pong 4 Purpose events at Dodger Stadium.
Pongstarz produces annual ping pong themed fundraisers at Pacific City in Huntington Beach, CA benefiting American Cancer Society.
Pongstarz and Kim Gilbert together have helped KIPP Bay Area Schools raise over $750K per year at the annual KIPP Ping Pong Smackdown held in Northern California. This event itself has raised over $4 million for children's education with sponsorships from Asurion,
In 2013, Pongstarz CEO Kim Gilbert embarked on her comeback tour by headlining the Oceanic Festival of Table Tennis with sponsorships from the International Table Tennis Federation, Butterfly, Gilbert Table Tennis Center, and Hama Sushi.
This unique promotional tour made stops at schools, hotels, malls and sports complexes across the Fiji Islands in Suva, Nadi, Ba, Lautoka, Sigatoka, and Tavarua Island.
