2019 Grants Awarded

The Coach Sauer Foundation is proud to announce that seven hockey organizations have received grant distributions in 2019.

Four youth hockey associations in Wisconsin will receive grants. They are the Somerset Youth Hockey Association to provide equipment to players in need; the Beloit Youth Hockey Association to help purchase junior intermediate nets; the Spooner Ice Association to help expand area youth tournament and DC Diamonds from Waunakee to help increase opportunities for girls only hockey in Dane County.

The Foundation also awarded a grant to Coulee Region Sled Hockey in LaCrosse to expand opportunities for older players.

Previously the Foundation announced it will provide financial support for the Polar Caps’ “Hockey for Life” program in Madison and will underwrite the Regional Disabled Hockey Festival for the third year. The Festival will be a season-opening event for the first time and move from its traditional March dates to the fall and take place from Oct. 18-20 at Madison Ice Arena. The annual Regional Disabled Festival is an opportunity for sled hockey and special hockey teams to enjoy a weekend of hockey competition and camaraderie, at no cost for participation.

The Coach Sauer Foundation also awarded financial support to the American Hearing Impaired Hockey Association to help defray costs so that Team USA may compete in the Deaflympics in December in Italy.

The Foundation is named after the late Jeff Sauer who won two national championships at the University of Wisconsin and also coached Team USA to a gold medal in the Paralympics. In its three years the Foundation has established the Jeff Sauer Award for Wisconsin high school hockey humanitarians, subsidize the Regional Disabled Hockey Festival, and provide financial support to youth hockey organizations throughout the state.

Its mission is to continue Jeff’s passion for using the game of hockey to help others. The Foundation is dedicated to providing more opportunities to play the game of hockey and support programs, both able-bodied and disabled, that emphasize the development of youth hockey players, coaches, and officials.

The Coach Sauer Foundation will hold its annual fundraiser Nov. 14 at Blackhawk Country Club in Madison and celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Miracle on Ice U.S. Olympic hockey team. Featured guests include Mark Johnson and John Harrington, two members of the gold-medal winning team.