TAUW LEGENDS: Becky Frank
The TAUW Legends video series preserves the voices and stories of those who shaped our first century of service. As part of our Centennial celebration, Jesse Boudiette, president of Propeller Consulting and Centennial Committee member, sat down with Becky Frank, who is chairing the Centennial Committee and chaired the 2013 annual fundraising drive.
Join us in continuing Becky’s legacy of compassion and community impact. Your gift today in honor of Becky helps write the next chapter of our story, ensuring that future generations will have access to the same life-changing services that have touched so many lives over the past century.
INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS WITH BECKY FRANK
Interviewed by Jesse Boudiette
Q: How did your journey with Tulsa Area United Way begin?
"I actually interviewed for a job here and got the job in 1986... I was hired as Director of Communications... You have an opportunity at United Way to work with the cream of the crop... I've always said you see the best side of everybody when they come through the door into the Tulsa Area United Way."
Q: How have United Way agencies impacted you personally?
"When I was chairing the United Way campaign in 2013, I remember pulling out the brochure... and I was just counting all the agencies that have impacted me, my family, immediate family, my extended family, my employees and people I knew—and more than half of them had touched our lives... When my dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, the first thing that I did was, I called LIFE Senior Services, because we were clueless about where you went for help... they were right there, just kind of mapping it all out for us."
Q: Can you share how mental health services helped your family?
"My brother, Billy, was bipolar... he was really this handsome striking man, he was an actor, a performer, a beautiful singer, just really talented, but he really suffered from a mental health standpoint... He ended up in 12 & 12. And I will always have such gratitude for 12 & 12 and now Grand Mental Health... they do so much to serve this community and they really helped Billy. Billy really rallied during that time... we got to enjoy some months there of just closeness... that was really wonderful."
Q: What was it like breaking barriers as campaign chair?
"I was the first woman to be the solo chair of the campaign... When Mark Graham (TAUW president and CEO) asked me in 2012, he had called me to meet him at the Chalkboard to talk... he asked if I would chair the campaign in 2013. Literally, I felt like I was going to fall out of my chair... he said, 'Well, you know, think about it and go home tonight and talk with Jack.' And I said, 'I don't need to talk to anybody. I know I want to do it.'... The women really rallied because I was the first woman to be the solo chair of the campaign."
Q: What would you say about the impact of United Way giving?
"People have a tendency to think that when you're making a contribution that you're giving something that impacts others... But then you think about these United Way partner agencies and the impact that they have on us, because we all have these things in our lives. These aren't just other people—we all have different challenges that come along... The relationships and the friendships and the bonding that happens with people in the United Way, to this day I feel like it benefits me... those relationships just stay with you over time."