**BREAKING NEWS: Pickleball Star Ben Johns Donates Entire \$5.7 Million Bonus and Endorsement Contract to Charities and Homelessness Support Organizations**
In a remarkable and selfless act of generosity, **pickleball sensation Ben Johns** has donated his entire **\$5.7 million** in bonuses and endorsement earnings to a variety of **charitable causes**, with a major portion directed toward organizations combating homelessness in the United States.
The 25-year-old athlete, widely regarded as the face of professional pickleball, made the surprise announcement during a press conference on Saturday, following his latest tournament victory on the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour. Rather than celebrating his personal success, Johns used the moment to highlight an issue close to his heart: homelessness and poverty in America.
> “I’ve been incredibly blessed in my career — with fans, sponsors, and the opportunity to play a sport I love,” said Johns. “But I know there are millions of people out there who are struggling just to survive. This donation is my way of giving back and hopefully sparking change.”
According to his representatives, the full \$5.7 million — which includes recent bonuses from sponsors and a new multi-year endorsement contract with a major athletic brand — will be allocated across several non-profit organizations. These include **Habitat for Humanity**, **Feeding America**, **The National Alliance to End Homelessness**, and local shelters in his home state of **Maryland** and training base in **Florida**.
Johns’ generosity is not just monetary. The PPA star also pledged to volunteer his time with community outreach programs and hopes to work directly with youth in underserved communities to teach life skills, sportsmanship, and the basics of pickleball.
The response from the public and sports world has been overwhelmingly positive. Fellow athletes, fans, and advocates have praised Johns for setting a powerful example at a time when professional sports are often dominated by headlines about contracts, disputes, and luxury.
PPA Tour Commissioner **Connor Pardoe** praised Johns’ donation, saying:
> “Ben Johns has already redefined what’s possible in pickleball. Now, he’s redefining what leadership and generosity look like in the world of sport. This is an incredible gift to the community and an inspiration to all of us.”
Johns, who holds multiple national titles and is ranked as the world’s No. 1 men’s singles and doubles player, has become an ambassador for the sport’s explosive growth. But beyond the court, he has increasingly used his platform to raise awareness on social issues, particularly youth development and homelessness — causes he says resonate deeply with his family’s values.
When asked if this donation would affect his future plans, Johns replied:
> “Not at all. I still want to win, grow the game, and give back. If anything, this motivates me more. Pickleball has given me so much — now it’s time to give back even more.”
In a sport still in its early professional stages, **Ben Johns’ \$5.7 million gesture** is not just a charitable donation — it’s a historic moment of humility and heart, showing the world how much one athlete can truly impact lives beyond the game.
