Public Invited to Groundbreaking Ceremony April 10
Marshfield, WI (OnFocus) After a successful fundraising effort, Marshfield will have a new sports complex, with the groundbreaking taking place on April 10.
“Our outdoor athletic facilities have been a topic of discussion for many years, and now we will have fields, tracks and diamonds we can be proud of to host many student and community events,” said Amber Kiggens-Leifheit, Executive Director of Marshfield Area Community Foundation. “These facilities will be used for curriculum for over 1200 students every day.”
She added that the facilities are available for community use as well, and serve as more than just an educational enhancement to our community.
“They are also good for economic development,” she explained. “We need these facilities to help attract and retain employers, employees, and community members.”
MACF was the fiscal agent for this project, accepting all gifts and pledges, and reminding people when they have a payment due, acknowledging all gifts, and paying the invoices for the project.
“Our Board of Directors believed that this was a good project for our community and a good fit for the foundation,” said Kiggens-Leifheit. “Several of our funds have given major gifts to the project- The Class of 54 Alumni Fund, the Hamus Fund, the John Harrington Fund, and the JP Adler Family Fund. The gift from the JP Adler Family Fund was the first major gift and kicked off the fundraising effort challenging others in the community to make a gift as well.”
Though fundraising is never easy, Kiggens-Leifheit said this project had very dedicated campaign chairs; Brad & Kendra Haessly and Terry Frankland.
“We also were very fortunate to have a wonderful leadership team that reached out to people who support athletics in our community,” she said. “It is amazing with the number of public funded projects- in the last few years. We live in a very generous community. Givers have stepped up for the project that touched the heart. Several have donated to multiple projects but it is interesting to see the new and different groups of donors to each project.”
Everyone is invited to attend the festivities on April 10 at 1:30 p.m., and attendees can expect a fun event beyond the typical ribbon-cutting.
“The committee has made it very student/community centered with the Marshfield High School Band playing, the MHS choir singing the National Anthem, the cheerleaders performing, and athletes from football, baseball, softball, and track actually manning the shovels for the ground breaking,” said Kiggens-Leifheit. “There will be a short program hosted by Kurt Boson (fund raising leadership committee and contractor) and Nathan Delany the Athletic Director.”
Other major publicly-funded projects that MACF has assisted with in recent years include Hardacre Park, Wenzel Plaza, JP Adler Kodiak Bear Exhibit, Marshfield Library and Community Center, The University of Wisconsin Stevens Point at Marshfield new STEM facility, and the new Marshfield Clinic Health System YMCA.
“We would like to thank every donor. Every gift, no matter what size has helped this project reach its fundraising goal. It has been a true community effort,” she said. “Thank You to all of the community-minded supporters of this project who helped us reach this milestone.”
MACF would like to especially thank the following major donors: Ken and Ardyce Heiting, Hamus Family, Marshfield Tiger Booster Club, The JP Adler Family Fund, Ron & Robin Safford, The Harrington Family, Everett & Dolores Roehl, Arlon & Gail Haessly, Marshfield Area Community Foundation, Brad & Kendra Haessly, Trierweiler Construction & Supply Company, Forward Financial, 100 Extraordinary Women, and Team Schierl Companies: Subway, The Store, and Schierl Tire & Service.
Author: Breanna Butler
Breanna Butler is an award-winning multimedia producer born and raised in Central Wisconsin. She enjoys exploring and writing about the community. She lives in Marshfield with her husband and furry family.
