Cowtown
Classic

Started with a daughter, grown by a community.

More than 15 years ago, Paul Straten's connection to Camp Summit began in the most personal way possible, through his daughter, Jackie. When Jackie attended Camp Summit for the first time, it opened the door to a community defined by acceptance, joy, and opportunity for individuals with special needs. What started as a single experience quickly became a lasting bond. Over the years, Camp Summit has not only impacted the Straten family but has also become a cornerstone for countless families across the country since its founding in 1947.

Then in 2020, Paul decided to channel that connection into action. After years of supporting the camp through a golf tournament, he launched a pickleball tournament as a new way to bring people together in support of the mission. What began as a modest, "fun-sized" event with about 30 teams steadily gained momentum over the next 4 years, proving that a well-run, purpose-driven event could both inspire participants and generate meaningful support for our special needs community.

In 2025, that vision took a major step forward when Bill "Maty" Matyastik crafted an idea for a much larger scale event including a Pro-Am and an Auction Dinner to accompany it. Paul loved it and the Cowtown Classic was born. Accompanied by an incredibly dedicated five-man Cowtown Committee, the event has quickly evolved into one of the most anticipated charity tournaments in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The Cowtown Classic is focused not just on competition, but on delivering a first-class experience with a deeper purpose.

In 2026, the team set its sights on $100,000, a significant leap from the $65,000 milestone of the year before. The Dallas-Fort Worth community answered with more than $135,000 for Camp Summit, more than double the first year. The third annual Cowtown Classic is already in the works for 2027, and we hope you find just the right opportunity to be part of it.