Toronto's St Michael's Hospital Foundation Challenges Ben Stiller to a Pickleball Showdown

In what might be the most unexpected challenge of 2025, Toronto’s St. Michael's Foundation has called out Ben Stiller from the middle of a surgical operating theatre. The bold fundraising film comes from director Jesse Senko and Toronto-based production company Nimble Content (part of Holiday United Group, or HUG).

The challenge promotes 'Paddle Royale,' the Foundation’s charity pickleball tournament happening in March, which aims to raise $200k+ for its frontline healthcare teams. The film was produced as part of Holiday United Group’s HUG for Good initiative, a program started in 2018 by HUG co-founder Josefina Nadurata, which partners creative talent with purpose led initiatives and charitable organisations.

The film opens with Dr. Kim Connelly, head of cardiology at St. Michael’s Hospital, performing heart surgery while breaking the fourth wall to address Ben directly. ”I’ve performed hundreds of heart procedures. Developed a life-saving drug. Spent a decade in medical school,” Dr. Connelly declares with intensity before revealing his true motivation: challenging the Hollywood star to a pickleball match.

What follows is a masterclass in deadpan comedy as Dr. Connelly continues operating while building to his challenge, demanding surgical implements ('VALVE!' 'PROBE!') before switching to pickleball gear ('PADDLE!' 'SWEATBAND!'). The kicker comes when Connelly tears away his scrubs to reveal full pickleball attire, surrounded by his fellow teammates.

”We thrive off of creating work with real impact through the HUG for GOOD initiative,” said Eastern Yoo, executive producer at HUG. “We could not pass this opportunity to help out St. Michael’s and create some genuinely disruptive work.”

No word yet on whether Ben has RSVP’d to the challenge, but with a $200K fundraising goal on the line, St. Michael’s is clearly betting on big names driving big donations. For now, as Kim puts it while catching a ball in the closing shot: ”The ball is now in your court.”