WAUPUN — Homan Auto Sales and Werner-Harmsen committed “significant contributions” towards the Waupun Hockey Association’s “Save The Rink” fundraiser this week.
Last year the Waupun Hockey Association began a fundraising campaign to replace the nearly 50 year old rink floor, and since then have made strides towards accomplishing the $800,000 goal.
Throughout the entire campaign the Hockey Association has worked with the City Council to assist in the fundraising, and now the City is expected to contribute $100,000 to the rink floor from the budget discussion consensus at last week’s meeting. The City Council is likely to vote on the matter at next Tuesday’s meeting.
Friday morning Tyler Loomans met with leadership at Werner-Harmsen and Homan Auto to shake on the deals. Loomans met with Werner-Harmsen co-owners Tyler Schulz and Wayne Buteyn at Werner-Harmsen Furniture, and Homan Auto president Mark Homan at Homan Auto Chevrolet on Gateway Drive.
Both Werner-Harmsen and Homan Auto are two of the community’s biggest benefactors, with large contributions to several local funds and organizations.
“We have a great team here that a lot of their youth are involved in hockey or figure skating, and so we felt it was a huge need to the community and the great benefits it can bring to Waupun, so we felt it was much needed to donate a large sum top hockey to keep them going,” Tyler Schulz told WPN.
“I look back in the past at what our forefathers have done for this community, and all the kids that have gone through that program, it’s just fantastic and we can’t stop that,” Wayne Buteyn said. “It’s a place for people to go, for kids to go and get acclimated to growing up and knowing what’s important. It’s a part of growth.”
“The Hockey and Figure Skaters associations are nice positives for our community and we are glad we are able to assist their fundraising efforts,” President of Homan Auto Mark Homan said. “A number of our past and current employees have been involved in the programs and have also played hockey at the Community Center over the years.”
“We are blessed to be able to support the Hockey Association and lay the groundwork for the next generation of Hockey Players and Figure Skaters,” Homan added. “I actually remember the original fundraising activities approximately 50 years ago and am glad we can give our continued support to not only this cause but many other causes in the communities that we are grateful to be a part of.”
Both of the contributions will go towards the new flooring in the rink, giving a significant boost to meeting the fundraiser goal.
“I can’t express how excited I am to partner with Homans and Werner-Harmsen,” Tyler Loomans said. “The impact that they’re going to have on the Hockey Association and Figure Skating is significant, and without their support for this project and for the continued support for the programs we would not be able to sustain what we’re doing in the community.”
“And my hope is that some of the other businesses see what Homans and Werner-Harmsen have been willing to do and stick their necks out to help us upfront with a big investment, and hopefully these local businesses continue to support us down the road and help finish this ‘Save The Rink’ project,” he added.
These two commitments mark the second and third major contributions from the Waupun business community, just following the National Exchange Bank Foundation’s contribution two weeks ago. The National Exchange Bank Foundation committed $150,000 to the fundraiser.
Both Werner-Harmsen and Homan Auto did not disclose the exact amount of their contributions.
