The Jacob Rogers Memorial Pickleball Tournament will take place on May 10 at Ellsworth-McAfee Park in Northborough. The event, open to players of all skill levels, aims to honor Jacob Rogers and support mental health initiatives for adolescents. Registration opens on March 18 and closes on April 10.
Honoring Jacob Rogers Through Pickleball
The pickleball tournament was created in memory of Jacob Rogers, who died by suicide at age 20 in 2022. His mother, Ann Marie Rogers, partnered with local pickleball players to keep his memory alive through the event.
“It keeps me busy. I just want to honor him, me and my husband, that’s what we can do.” – (rogers)
Rogers is actively involved in gathering sponsors and organizing raffle baskets for the tournament. In 2024, the event raised $28,000, and organizers hope to reach a similar amount this year.
Raising Funds for Mental Health Programs
Funds from the tournament will benefit Shine, a Worcester-based mental health initiative, and Northborough Recreation’s new youth mental health programs.
“It’s going to help youth and young adults. It’ll really make them understand that it’s okay to need help and to seek out all the resources that are there. It’s more about putting mental health on par, as Shine says, with physical health.” – (lead organizer Suzanne Cox)
Cox works closely with Northborough Recreation to coordinate the event and encourages participation.
“It’s a fun day to play and support an amazingly good cause locally.” – (cox)
A Welcoming and Community-Focused Event
The tournament is designed to be a relaxed and enjoyable experience for players of all skill levels.
“Come on out and play, or come and watch – it’s not a sanctioned tournament. We didn’t want anything too tense. [We’ve had] people who would never think about playing in a tournament. It’s fun for them to do it, and that’s the feedback we received the last two years.” – (Rogers)
Instead of spreading the event over a weekend, organizers chose to keep it to a single day to encourage community bonding.
“We wanted everybody there together. This is really about [Northborough and Shrewsbury] and the surrounding Westborough coming together to have a great fun day, eat great food, get great presents off of the raffles, enjoy camaraderie and raise money for good.” – (cox)
As registration opens, the tournament committee is also seeking sponsors from local businesses to help support youth mental health programs.
News in Brief: Jacob Rogers Memorial Pickleball Tournament
The Jacob Rogers Memorial Pickleball Tournament will be held on May 10 at Ellsworth-McAfee Park in Northborough. The event honors Jacob Rogers and raises funds for adolescent mental health programs. Registration runs from March 18 to April 10. Organizers encourage community participation and are seeking local sponsors to support the cause.
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