Ice Sports Association Announces Substantial Donation from the Sioux Falls Stampede Hockey Club

On Tuesday the Ice Sports Association (ISA) announced a substantial charitable donation from the Sioux Falls Stampede Hockey Club, including a unique challenge component to the local business community.

Dubbed the “$100K Hat Trick”, referring to a single player scoring three goals in a game, the overall impact of the program is to secure (3) new $100,000 contributions to the new SCHEELS IcePlex project.

The initial commitment features a $100,000 charitable donation to the ISA Chamber Community Appeals Campaign from the Stampede ownership group, Sioux Falls Sports, LLC.

The second stage of the Hat Trick is a challenge to the local business community and individuals to step up and further support the ISA’s Chamber Community Appeals Campaign with a second set of pledges totaling $100,000.  The ISA Chamber Community Appeals Campaign runs through March 29, 2013.

The Stampede will complete the third leg of the “trick” with an additional $100,000 gift that will match the business community’s $100,000 in pledges dollar-for-dollar.

“Our hockey club is pleased to support the ISA’s vision for a new youth-based, multi-sheet ice facility for Sioux Falls,” said Tom Garrity, President/CEO of Sioux Falls Sports, LLC.  “There is nothing more important to the future of our team and to the future of ice sports in our community than the development of our young skaters.  The SCHEELS IcePlex will provide both the Sioux Falls Youth Hockey Association and the Sioux Falls Figure Skating Club with a new facility that will bring growth and enhanced opportunities to our youth programs.  Our organization whole-heartedly supports that mission, and we hope this gift helps energize that effort.”

The gift is a significant component of ISA’s multi-faceted fundraising plan to raise $7.7 million, largely from private sources, to construct the SCHEELS IcePlex.  The facility will be a purpose-built, year-round indoor ice facility with three sheets of ice and other spectator amenities.

“This gift and match challenge from the Stampede Hockey Club represent corporate citizenship at its finest; something we are blessed to see time and time again in Sioux Falls,” said Joe Zueger, President of Ice Sports Association and co-chair of the Community Appeals Campaign.  “Like literally hundreds of other generous pledges we’ve received in our Leadership and Chamber campaigns to-date, this is yet another example of pure charity at its finest.  A truly meaningful gift, this commitment by the Stampede ownership group comes at a great time for ISA as we push to our fundraising finish line.”

ISA raised more than $5 million through private contributions and pledges, a generous commitment from the City of Sioux Falls, and a flagship donation from SCHEELS prior to starting the Chamber Community Appeals Campaign in November 2012.  The ISA Chamber drive has a goal of raising an additional $1.54 million for the project.

“We are confident we will meet this goal, thanks to the exceptional generosity of our local business community and countless generous individuals and volunteers,” said Sue Salter, Executive Director of the ISA.  “Early in our Chamber phase, our campaign received a huge lift in the form of a $150,000 gift from First PREMIER Bank/PREMIER Bankcard, which helped jump-start our Community Appeals fundraising.   Today’s pledge and challenge from the Stampede will continue to fuel our campaign and inspire new gifts, and we are extremely grateful.”

The SCHEELS IcePlex will be built on the campus of the Sanford Sports Complex, just west of the regional airport in north Sioux Falls.  Sanford Health is providing ISA with approximately 11 acres of land to construct the new facility and support future growth.

Plans are to break ground on the SCHEELS IcePlex in late 2013, with a scheduled opening date in the fall of 2014.  In addition to open skating time for the public, the SCHEELS IcePlex will be home to the Sioux Falls Youth Hockey Association, the Sioux Falls Figure Skating Club, area adult hockey leagues and new user groups such as the newly-formed Sioux Falls Curling Club.