Kicking for Christmas Tournament raises funds to provide gifts for residents

The competitive juices were flowing during this annual kickball tournament in Biloxi.

The annual Kicking for Christmas Tournament is a fundraiser that started in 2014 after a small group of individuals in healthcare wanted to enhance the holiday season for their residents.

It’s a double-elimination style tournament featuring first, second, and third place winners.

The funds raised are used to buy residents gifts and other things they might want to receive during Christmas. Christiana Calhoun with Pillars of Biloxi said, “Christmas time to buy residents different things that they may want which is very beneficial and really a blessing to them because you have some family members that come see them and some don’t. So, to be able to give them something that they really want, that’s a real blessing to them.”

Berneadette Grayson with Plaza Community Living Center said, “It’s been, I love it. It’s great. I’ve been participating for five years. It’s been great.”

This year, six local centers and 14 teams participated in this year’s tournament.