POP – Pinball Outreach Project continues its fundraising efforts

Nov. 9, 2012 - PRLog -- POP had a fantastic 2012 as the pinball community continued to support its fundraising efforts. Beginning with the Pacific Pinball Exposition in September, POP loaned a “Lucky Strike” pinball machine to the children’s tournament where delighted kids competed on it for high scores. “They really enjoyed the bowling theme of the 1965 Williams electromechanical game, and we were able to spread the word about the program,” said Nicole Anne Reik, POP’s Executive Director. “This is one of the games we are bringing to hospitalized children in the near future.”

Later in September, POP had its first fundraising tournament - The POPcorn Classic co-hosted by Bay Area muralist Dan Fontes (www.danfontes.com) and Bow Yoga (www.bowyoga.com). World-ranked pinball players and local novices alike competed on classic pinball games such as Bally’s “Space Invaders” and Gottlieb’s “Surf Champ.”

The tournament featured a side event where competitors could play using POP’s custom-made remote flipper box for high scores. The remote flipper box can be hooked up to pinball machines allowing children with physical limitations or disabilities to flip from in front of the game. For example, someone confined to a wheelchair can place the lightweight box on his or her lap and have the same control over the flippers as someone standing at the pinball machine would. The POPcorn Classic raised $650 to help POP fulfill its mission.

Leaving no part of the country unturned, POP headed to the home of pinball, Chicago, for its Pinball Expo. Trent Augenstein of Tilt Amusements (www.tiltamusements.com/) donated $120, all the money collected in the pinball machine during the kids' tournament at the event.

Back in the Bay Area, comedy and pinball came together to raise more money for POP. Local comics gathered at Kimball’s Carnival in Oakland, passing around a bucket for donations as the six pinball machines there collected quarters throughout the night. The event raised over $200.  

We are excited to announce support from the number one ranked pinball player in the world, Keith Elwin, (www.ifpapinball.com/) who generously donated a classic Stern “Galaxy” pinball machine to the program from his personal collection. “I was excited to learn about the Pinball Outreach Project; I was seven years old when I started playing, and I know visits from POP will make these kids in the hospital smile,” says Elwin.

POP continues to raise money with another Bay Area fundraiser, The Thanksgiving Leftovers Tournament in December, hosted by Pinball Pirate in Benicia (www.pinballpirate.com/). More information on the tournament can be found at www.pinballoutreach.org.

POP’s Executive Director, Nicole Anne Reik had this to say about the program: “This is a very exciting time for POP. Through the continued support of the pinball community we now have enough funds to approach our first children’s hospital. Our goal is to launch the program in a Bay Area children’s hospital in early 2013.”

If you are interested in getting involved, volunteering, or making a donation, please contact Nicole@pinballoutreach.org.

You can follow POP on Twitter @pinballoutreach, on Facebook at facebook.com/ThePinballOutreachProject, or visit our website at www.pinballoutreach.org.