OVERVIEW
Origin
This report is to document the growth of the Hoffen Foundation from its conception in 2003 to the present.
The Hoffen Foundation was established in the summer of 2003 after a chain of events changed the lives of the establishing three directors. In June of the previous year (2002) Tim Zemens was diagnosed with cancer. The successful surgery was followed by special radiation offered in only a few places in the United States. Tim has spent nine winters as a hockey referee in the minor leagues around his home in Arlington, Texas. The cancer was a shock to the tight knit hockey community in which he belongs.
The special radiation was offered to Tim in two places, Seattle, Washington and Detroit, Michigan, Tim's place of birth. He returned to Detroit and reunited with his family in a time of great uncertainty. Tim spent the next three weeks visiting family and friends all the while taking radiation treatments on a daily basis. The family history, coupled with little success the Zemens family has seen in similar battles with the disease, specifically the loss of their mother, father, and oldest brother did not aid in the treatment process.
Tim's treatment in Michigan lasted three weeks and then he returned to Texas to continue another 7 weeks of the standard radiation protocol at a hospital near his home. Radiation treatments ended on, of all days, September 11th, 2002, the one-year anniversary of the terrorists attacks in New York and Washington, DC.
Tim began to increase his time spent on charity work throughout the next year telling anyone who would listen, the importance of seeing a doctor for any change or abnormality in the body as soon as it is noticed. He made visits to children's wards at hospitals while traveling to hockey assignments. Conversations with family and the Central Hockey League convinced Tim to take it a step further. The Hoffen Foundation was conceived soon after.
With humble beginnings, the Foundation began to chart a course to raise funds and support for children through golf tournaments, hockey game outings, and similar projects.
Purpose
The main focus is to assist children with differing diseases, disabilities and socioeconomic challenges by raising money to enhance the ability of existing organizations to provide new programs and ongoing assistance. That assistance may be in the form of toys during the holidays, clothes and educational supplies for the school year, financial assistance for medical facilities, organizations or needs, funding to support outings to stimulate children's imaginations and opportunities to engage in activities they may otherwise not experience.
Milestones
| DATE | EVENT |
|---|---|
| August, 2003 | The Hoffen Foundation is formed and is incorporated in Texas. |
| October, 2003 | Fundraising begins with the 1st annual golf tournament March 2004. |
| March 2004 | Additional Board Members are added to enhance growth. |
| April, 2004 | Hoffen Foundation receives 501.C.3 status. |
| September, 2004 | Hoffen Foundation lands the support of the Central Hockey League. |
| October, 2004 | CHL/Hoffen Foundation start the "Caps for Courage" campaign. |
| August, 2005 | Another expansion of the Hoffen Foundation Board with the addition of John Qualls. |
| September, 2005 | Program expansions bringing children from area hospitals to Texas Ranger baseball and Dallas Stars hockey games as well as the hockey games already established. |
| November, 2005 | Teamed up with the Square D Company to provide electrical equipment and other assistance to repair the Ronald McDonald House in New Orleans, LA after Hurricane Katrina. |
| March, 2006 | The CHL's "Captains for Courage" web auction becomes the largest for the Hoffen Foundation raising over $9000.00 in its first year. |
| June, 2006 | The Detroit Tigers second annual baseball game raises over $3000.00 in its second year. |
Programs
Throughout the course of the year, the Hoffen Foundation puts on various fundraisers to raise money, provide entertainment for children, or provide toys and other things to make their lives more enjoyable. Such programs include:
Annual Fundraisers
| February | Annual Ft. Worth Brahmas hockey game fund raiser. |
| June | Central Hockey League fund raisers during their Summer Meetings. |
| June | Detroit Tigers baseball game and bus tour. |
| July | Annual Texas Rangers Baseball game fund raiser (now expanded to 3 throughout the season). |
| September | Toy fund raiser for teenagers in hospitals (Movies, etc.). |
| October | Annual Hoffen Foundation golf tournament. |
Other Fundraisers
- " Silent Auctions " Detroit Tiger baseball game.
- Web sale of poster, hats, etc.
- Local support (Dallas/Ft. Worth area) through participating grocery stores' community involvement. Kroger, Albertson's, and the Tom Thumb grocery store chains have all allowed the Hoffen Foundation to link with their discount cards/preferred member cards for fund raising.
- "Caps for Courage" hat sales at various CHL festivities.
- CHL All-Star festivities benefiting the Hoffen Foundation " Texas Tornados Hockey Game, North American Hockey League .
Other Programs
- "Margaritas for Movies" - Movies were exchanged for a drink coupon at Coconuts Bar and Grill in Dallas, Texas in September 2004. Over 200 VHS movies, DVD's, CD's and games geared for teenagers were donated and distributed to the Ronald McDonald House, and Children's Medical Center, in Dallas, Texas and John Peter Smith Hospital, Cook Children's Hospital, and Ronald McDonald House in Ft. Worth, Texas.
Hoffen Foundation Director clowns around with kids from Cooks Children's Hospital at a Rangers Game
- Kids Night Out at the hockey game. The Hoffen Foundation helped host children and their families from local children's hospitals at three different hockey games during the 2004/2005 season. The success of the program and the gratitude from the families and hospitals have inspired us to continue and grow the program to include the Dallas Stars for 2005/2006 season.
- Kids night out to see the Texas Rangers play baseball. We have expanded our visits to sporting events by bring children and young adults to a night out to enjoy a relaxing evening and watch of nations pastime - baseball!
- The Texas Tornado hockey club teams up with the Hoffen Foundation to bring kids from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation to a night out to watch Exciting North American Hockey League action in Frisco, Texas.
Kids at the Brahmas Game in February 2006
Supported Charities
Listed below are some of the places that where donations were given thanks to the kindness of supporters of the Hoffen Foundation. Thanks to those who care enough about others to make this possible.
| 2008 | $5,450.00 Donated so far | |
| January | Medical City Children's Hospital | $500.00 |
| March | Susan B Komen Foundation | $1,000.00 |
| March | Leukemia & Lymphoma Society | $250.00 |
| March | Make a Wish - Fort Worth | $2,000.00 |
| May | Oklahoma Brain Tumor Foundation | $250.00 |
| May | M.D. Anderson Cancer Center | $200.00 |
| July | Hockey's All-Star Kids Foundation | $250.00 |
| July | Love For Kids | $1,000.00 |
| 2007 | $24,161.00 Donated — 2007 details | |
| 2006 | $31,188.00 Donated — 2006 details | |
| 2005 | $12,250.00 Donated — 2005 details | |
| 2004 | $5,600.00 Donated — 2004 details | |
| 2003 | $1,500.00 Donated — 2003 details |
Other Donations
| 9/2005 | The Hoffen Foundation teamed up with Supporters of Children's Charities of Dallas and the Dallas Children's Charities to collect toys and supplies for distribution to evacuees from Hurricane Katrina. The items (over 5 truck loads) were distributed directly to displaced people at various shelters in the Dallas and Ft. Worth area. |
| 4/2005 | Toys donated to Ronald McDonald House - Ft. Worth, TX Including various video tapes, 13 CD's, games, cards, DVD's, electronic games and other toys directed to the teenagers and young adults. |
| 3/2005 | Toys donated to Children's Medical Center - Dallas, TX Including various video tapes, 15 CD's, games, cards, DVD's, electronic games |
| 10/2004 | Toys donated to Ronald McDonald House - Dallas, TX including over 20 video tapes, 15 CD's, games, cards, DVD's, electronic games and other toys directed to the teenagers and young adults. |
| 9/2004 | Toys donated to Cook Children's Hospital - Ft. Worth, TX Including over 20 video tapes (including Spanish language), 15 CD's, games, cards, DVD's, electronic games and other toys directed to the teenage patients |
| 9/2004 | donated to Scottish Rite Children's Hospital - Dallas, TX Including over 20 video tapes, 15 CD's, games, cards, DVD's, electronic games, and other toys for teenage patients |
| 2/2004 | Fort Worth Brahmas Hockey Tickets/Vouchers, (80) valued at $13.00 each donated to Cook Children's Hospital - Fort Worth, TX |
Other Programs
| 3/2005 | With support from the Texas Tornados Junior A Hockey Club of the North American Hockey League, the Hoffen Foundation brought children and their families to watch the Tornados take on the Fairbanks Ice Dogs. These special guests were from Children's Medical Center of Dallas. Along with the hockey game, they were treated to Tornado hats, Hoffen Foundation pucks along with programs and other goodies. |
| 12/2004 | With help from the Odessa Jackalopes of the Central Hockey League, the Hoffen Foundation brought children and their families from the High Sky Children's Ranch in Midland, Texas. Our guests enjoyed a fun, action packed professional hockey game between the Jackalopes and the San Angelo Saints. Along with the hockey game, they were treated to "Caps for Courage" ball caps and other Jackalope souvenirs, |
| 11/2004 | The Fort Worth Brahmas of the Central Hockey League were the host for 25 children from Cook Children's Hospital in Fort worth to watch the Brahmas play the Topeka Tarantulas. With help from the Hoffen Foundation, the Brahmas gave the kids a fun filled evening which included a visit from Central Hockey League linesmen Tim Zemens prior to the game, autographed pucks, T-shirts, programs, "Caps for Courage" ball caps, pennants, and other goodies. One of the children had the privilege of singing the National Anthem. |
Supporters
Central Hockey League
In September of 2004, the Central Hockey League announced their support for the Hoffen Fou
ndation. Through teamwork and dedication, the League and the Foundation had several successful programs which benefited children's charities across Central Hockey League member cities. A successful web auction was held, auctioning all kinds of hockey items. Additional programs during the 2004/2005 season included fund raisers at the All-Star game in Laredo, Texas and the "Caps for Courage" hat promotion.
The "Caps for Courage" program (originally started by Anthony Donskov of the Lubbock Cotton Kings) 
was reborn, which sold custom designed hats as a fund raiser and also as giveaways at area hospitals when Central Hockey League and Hoffen Foundation representatives visit hospitals. The hat's logo illustrates the desire of the hockey community's commitment to children. The name of the program "Caps for Courage" reflects the tough fight many children go through when undergoing hospital treatments.
Fort Worth Brahmas
The Fort Worth Brahmas Hockey club has been a proud supporter of the Hoffen Foundation from conception. The 
team has quietly contributed whenever asked. Pioneering programs, like the Kids Night out at the Hockey Game, The Brahmas are a great example for all teams, leagues and organizations. They have also contributed to each of the Hoffen Foundation golf tournaments, as well as donations to area hospitals, in support of the Foundation. They are simply the best. Donations to JPS Hospital, Cook Children's Medical Center, and the Ronald McDonald House in Ft. Worth, Texas were from programs in which they teamed up with the Hoffen Foundation.
Nate O'Brien
Other supporters include 2004 Canadian Olympic swimmer Nate O'Brien who 
has lent his name and support to the growth of the Foundation. O'Brien competed in the 200 meter butterfly and the 200 meter backstroke for Canada in Athens. "The good things this organization brings to children and the dedication illustrated by the directors and supporters should be an inspiration to us all." Nate plans to make appearances as his schedule allows at various Hoffen Foundation events.
Gordon Dwyer
Gordon Dwyer signed his first NHL contract in 2003 (as a referee). The Halifax, Nova Scotia, native has been a supporter of
the Foundation since its inception. "I see the
great things that the Foundation does. Tim (Zemens) brings the same determination to the Foundation that he brought to officiating. I am not surprised at the Foundation's success and look forward to continue helping anyway I can."
Gordy has visited children on behalf of the Foundation. You can check it out in an article about him on the NHL website:
Link to article on NHL website
We greatly appreciate his support and time.