This content was published: April 10, 2015. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
Roger Frank memorial pingpong tourney raises $2K for scholarship
Story and Photos by Jordan Richie.
Last month Portland Community College hosted the second annual Roger Frank Memorial Pingpong party and tournament at Pips & Bounce in Southeast Portland, a pingpong social club. Many PCC staff, students and community members attended the event and enjoyed the day playing table tennis and socializing with others.
More than $2,000 was raised this year. Fifty people attend the event with 21 participating in the tournament. The first-place winner received a full-sized pingpong table and other prizes were raffled to attendees by event sponsors.
More than $2,000 was raised this year. Fifty people attend the event with 21 participating in the tournament. The first-place winner received a full-sized pingpong table and other prizes were raffled to attendees by event sponsors.
The event was created in memory of PCC counselor Roger Frank who died unexpectedly in 2012. Roger was a psychologist who helped many students over his 20-plus years at PCC. Frank had a spinal cord injury and learned to live and work out of his wheelchair. One of his pleasures was playing pingpong with his family and friends. To honor Roger and the students he loved to help, an annual party and pingpong tournament was created in his name. Proceeds from the event are dedicated to the Roger Frank Memorial Scholarship Fund through the PCC Foundation.
“The event changed locations from last year and the committee feels that they have finally found a home for future events,” said Simone Frank, Frank’s wife and a counselor at the Cascade Campus.
Overall, organizers said the event is growing and continues to be a success. If you were unable to attend this year’s party and tournament, but would still like to support it, visit the Roger Frank Memorial Ping-Pong Party and Tournament page and click on the donation link. Your donation is tax deductible.
“I remember going over to the Frank house and watching Roger and his son Matt play ping pong in their man cave,” said Don Ritchie, PCC academic adviser and organizing committee member. “It was great seeing them both enjoy each other’s whole-hearted competition. I think the event is a good representation of what Roger would have wanted. You can play pingpong, socialize and even have a pint while raising money for a good cause.”
Next year’s event is scheduled for February.
This is amazing. Great people should be remembered in great ways and creating a fundraising tournament of the man’s favorite hobby is beyond honorable. Best regards to all of his family, friends, faculty, and students alike.