Peruvian Pro Miranda Cabieses Launches Foundation to Grow Pickleball Among Kids in Her Home Country
What's the Score?
Peruvian professional pickleball player Miranda Cabieses is making an impact beyond the competitive circuit by establishing a foundation to introduce the sport to children in Peru. Currently competing in the U.S. Pickleball Open, Cabieses, who herself discovered the sport after overcoming a serious injury, co-founded the Cabieses Foundation with her brother to donate thousands of paddles and supplies to kids in her home country.
Hit it deeper!
Miranda Cabieses' story is one of resilience and giving back. Originally from Peru, she is now a professional pickleball player who is participating in her fifth professional tournament at the U.S. Pickleball Open in Naples. Her journey into the sport was particularly meaningful as she discovered pickleball after recovering from a "serious injury" that had left her unable to walk. She shared that she was "a kid who couldn’t walk" and is now "sharing the love" of pickleball.
Cabieses was introduced to pickleball by her brother, Hercilio. Initially, she was unfamiliar with the sport, even questioning what it was when her brother suggested she come to the States because he was playing and travelling. Her curiosity led her to try pickleball while attending Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU). Since that introduction, she has become a "world ambassador for pickleball," competing at top levels.
A significant part of Cabieses' efforts is focused on her home country. She started the Cabieses Foundation with her brother specifically to help bring pickleball to kids in Peru. Despite people sometimes assuming pickleball was already present in Peru because she is from there, Cabieses noted that it wasn't the case. Through the foundation, she has been actively involved in making the sport accessible to Peruvian children. The foundation has already donated thousands of paddles and supplies, providing children across Peru with the equipment needed to learn and enjoy pickleball. Cabieses finds deep personal satisfaction in this work, stating, "To see that I can give back to these kids and community... it feels good in my heart". She is preparing to graduate from FGCU in May. Through her own inspiring journey of overcoming adversity and finding success in pickleball, combined with her efforts to introduce the sport to others, Cabieses hopes to demonstrate that with determination, "anything is possible".
The World Pickleball Verdict
Miranda Cabieses' initiative to launch the Cabieses Foundation highlights the growing trend of pickleball professionals using their platform to promote the sport internationally and create positive social impact. Her personal story of recovery and discovery of pickleball adds a powerful layer to her mission. By focusing on introducing the sport to children in Peru through charitable donations of equipment, she is directly contributing to building the sport from the grassroots level in a country where it is not yet widely established. This effort underscores the potential for pickleball to be more than just a competitive game; it can be a vehicle for community engagement, youth development, and personal inspiration on a global scale. Cabieses serves as a compelling example of how players can leverage their success to give back and foster the sport's growth in new territories.