Salem grad launches nonprofit inspired by life-enhancing ‘Coach Frank’
“Coach Frank” Szczepanski, who passed away in 2016, is flanked by Salem softball coach Bonnie Southerland (left) and his daughter, Kelli, a former standout pitcher for the Rocks.
If you played sports as a youth, you may have been fortunate to play for someone like Frank Szczepanski — fondly known as “Coach Frank” by his legion of players.
“My dad was one of those coaches whose No. 1 goal was to make sure his players had fun playing sports,” said Kelli Szczepanski, Coach Frank’s daughter and one of his former players. “At the same time, he wanted his players to learn the important life lessons you can get from playing sports.
“He was the coach who, for instance, if a player arrived at a game with a hole in one of her socks, he’d reached into his bag and pull out a new pair for her, jokingly telling her, ‘Don’t tell anybody’ where you got these’. He was a Wayne County Deputy Sheriff, so he could be tough at times (she smiled), but not when he was coaching.”
Kelli Szczepanski, who was a three-year varsity standout pitcher for the Rocks (and Adrian College during her post-high school days) before graduating in 2004, said she fully grasped the positive impact her dad had on his Salem players (Frank was a freshman and junior varsity head coach; and varsity assistant coach under Bonnie Southerland for the Rocks for 12 years) at his 2016 funeral.
‘Coach Frank’ made sports fun
“During the visitation and the funeral, the funeral home was packed with players who played for him and they all praised the way he made the sport fun for them,” Kelli fondly reflected. “They shared with me how my dad helped them connect to the sport and to their teammates. That’s when the idea to start a foundation in his memory came to me.”
Following months of thorough research, Kelli launched The Coach Frank Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose mission is to encourage girls to participate in sports even if their families may face financial barriers.
“You may be surprised how many kids there are in Plymouth, Canton and surrounding communities whose families can’t afford the costs that come with their kids playing organized sports,” explained Kelli Szczepanski, who works on a curriculum services unit at the University of Michigan.
“I wanted to start a foundation that would allow every kid who wanted to play sports to realize their dream, even if their family faced financial hardships that may have prevented them from playing.”
Easy-to-navigate website
Kelli Szczepanski developed an easy to navigate website — CoachFrankFoundation.com — that includes a compelling mission statement, an application form for families who need youth sports-related financial assistance and how people can donate funds to the awesome cause.
The foundation has raised funds through golf outings, online auctions and donations provided by businesses and individuals.
“It’s a Wayne County-wide non-profit, so there are a lot of families who can benefit from it,” she said, adding the foundation has already donated funds to help Detroit’s Police Athletic League assist financially-strapped families and teams enjoy the pure joy that athletics provide.
“Ideally, though, we’d like to help more Plymouth and Canton families, because our research has shown us how many families are in need of a scholarship like this. One obstacle has been getting the word out there that this is available.”
Asked what her late father would have thought about her incredible endeavor, Kelli’s voice cracked with emotion.
“No matter what my brother and I accomplished — with sports or otherwise — my dad was incredibly proud and he told us,” she said. “If he knew about this, he’d be over-the-moon proud. He’d also be a little embarrassed and humbled, I’m sure, by the pictures of him that are on the website — and our logo which is a drawing of his profile.”
Kelli didn’t stop there
Kelli Szczepanski has also teamed with a U of M colleague, Bekah Ashley, to launch Blue Cardinal Coaching & Development, a concept that helps athletes, businesses and leaders overcome mental and emotional challenges.
“In our strategy-packed individual and group training workshops, we equip every person with the skills to tackle challenges head-on,” the Blue Cardinal mission page states. “Our game plan? Personal growth. We focus on the strengths within each individual and the aspects they can control.
“This winning strategy sets us apart from the competition, showcasing our unwavering commitment to individual achievement and self-awareness.”
Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.
