About Us
The Hoffen Foundation was established in the summer of 2003 by Tim Zemens who realized after being diagnosed with cancer the importance of “Hope” in the recovery process. In June of 2002, Tim Zemens was diagnosed with a rare cancer and with successful surgery was followed by special radiation offered in only a few places in the United States.
Tim began to increase his time spent on charity work throughout the next year visiting children at hospitals while traveling to hockey assignments. Tim spent nine winters as a hockey referee in the minor leagues around his home in Arlington, Texas. The cancer was also a shock to the tight knit hockey community. Conversations with family and the Central Hockey League convinced Tim to ultimately establish The Hoffen Foundation. 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.
The mission of the Hoffen Foundation is to give children a ray of hope. The name “Hoffen” is German for “hope”, an action and emotion crucial to overcoming obstacles and challenges in life. It is the desire of the Foundation to carry out fund raising events to benefit charitable groups that may cultivate such hope for children throughout the community. |
The main focus is to assist children with a variety diseases, disabilities and socioeconomic challenges by raising funds. The funds are used to enhance the ability of existing organizations, to provide new programs and offer 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, funding to support outings to stimulate children’s imaginations and opportunities to engage in activities they may otherwise not experience.
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The Hoffen Foundation enriches the local community in a variety of ways. While we have always made an effort to provide financial support to local charities, we also give back by sponsoring our own events. Some of the ongoing programs are outings for local children in hospitals to area sporting events, and visits by professional sports figures to hospitals. The launch of a scholarship for college bound children with hospital histories, snacks or welcome packages for kids and families with extended hospital visits.
The Hoffen Foundation also supports a variety of programs for established charities throughout the local community that are staples in our distribution of funds. Johnathan’s Place Secret Santa, St. Jude Children’s Hospital, and the rebuilding of the Ronald McDonald House in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina are also small examples of our unique dedication to children’s causes.
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