5th Olib Open Raises $3,000 for PESA Kids to Fight Pediatric Cancer

The fifth annual Olib Open table tennis tournament raised about $3,000 for PESA Kids to Fight Kids Cancer, a grassroots boost for pediatric cancer support that underlines the event's rapid growth and community reach. Held at the Boonton Knights of Columbus Hall, the bracket-style competition reunited players of all ages for friendly matches, tricky trays, giveaways and donated prize baskets that helped push the fundraiser past the $3,000 mark.

Dailyrecord reported 60 active players and an additional 75 spectators for a total of 135 attendees, while Northjersey described the crowd broadly as "over 100." An original write-up gave a similar estimate of about 125 players and spectators. All sources agree on roughly 60 competitors, and photos showed many pairings playing at once and participants posing for a group photo before the first round.

Tournament director Ante Rogic, who founded the Olib Open in 2022, framed the event as both a community gathering and a memorial effort. Rogic said, "The turnout for the tournament is unbelievable," and added, "And I'm so overjoyed. I put on this event every year to help my cousins' organization, and this is such a beautiful thing." Rogic launched the first edition at his home with 25 participants to bring family and friends together during the winter blues; the tournament later moved to Steven Cukar's house before scaling up to the Knights of Columbus Hall as local sponsors and crowds increased.

PESA Kids to Fight Kids Cancer is run by cousins Dan and Steven Cukar, and the event carried a personal dedication. "All rallied in remembrance of Dan Cukar's sister, Diana, who died from cancer at age 5, and in solidarity with children suffering today," a Dailyrecord account noted. That sense of purpose translated into tangible results: organizers and contributors combined entry fees, food donations, tricky trays and donated prize baskets to produce the roughly $3,000 total.

The Olib Open also highlighted community traditions in local table tennis culture: a plaque listing previous winners sat on display, prizes were awarded to the top three finishers, and players spanning generations shared the playing area. The first four editions of the Olib Open, from 2022 through 2025, raised $4,000 collectively; this single-day haul in 2026 came close to matching that sum, signaling larger fundraising potential moving forward.

For Boonton players, organizers and local sponsors, the 5th Olib Open demonstrates how a neighborhood ping-pong event can scale into a meaningful charitable engine. As the tournament continues to grow, organizers will likely refine logistics, confirm final tallies and announce winners and sponsor lists, while the community keeps serving up support for children facing cancer.