Frank Swalga savors opportunity to make a difference for RMHC

Fundraising efforts at 2017 Mid-Penn Region Golf Outing set event record

Frank Swalga spent six hours on a Monday in mid-June driving around a picturesque golf course. He didn’t swing a golf club. He didn’t tee up a golf ball. He didn’t make any putts.

Why?

Simple, he was busy making sure the 150 golfers on the Scotch Valley Country Club course all had a positive experience on a warm and sunny day during the 25th Annual Ronald McDonald House Charities® Mid-Penn Region Golf Outing on June 12 in Hollidaysburg, PA.

As a board member for the RMHC Mid-Penn Region, Frank was focused on making sure that all of the players on the 37 participating teams enjoyed their time at the non-profit organization’s top single fundraising event of the year.

“It’s a great tournament,” said Frank, a Government Contract Manager at NPC. “It was a very good day and the weather was very nice this year. This golf tournament is our biggest single function that brings in the most money each year.”

This year’s event was a resounding success, once again, bringing in an event record $39,000 to support the RMHC Mid-Penn Region’s fundraising efforts.

“The more money we raise, the more money we can give back to the charity,” Frank said. “I thought everything came together very well. And as usual, the players enjoyed themselves.”

Frank has been an RMHC board member for five years. He spends a lot of time coordinating this golf outing and a number of other RMHC initiatives throughout the year, and the rewards greatly outweigh the time commitment.

“It’s nice to be able to do something that helps people,” Frank said. “You meet people who utilize these (Ronald McDonald) houses, you hear the stories of these people… it’s a charity you wish you didn’t need. I feel very fortunate I can help these families going through bad times; the houses take away some of the stress in a bad situation.”

This was also the first year that Frank’s wife, Dawn, was able to help out at the event.

“She hears what’s going on, she knows it’s a big deal for me,” Frank said. “She likes to support the things we do (at NPC), and even though she doesn’t work at NPC, Mark (Barnhart, the owner/Chairman of the Board) makes her feel very welcome. I appreciate all that she was able to contribute at this year’s event.”