Beaver Dam Area Community Foundation Gives $3,500 in Grants

The Beaver Dam Area Community Foundation provided grants to keep ice sports active in Dodge County. They provided the Beaver Dam Family Center Ice Arena with a $3,000 grant and a $500 grant for the Beaver Dam Hockey Association. The $3,000 grant has contributed to new exterior doors at the ice arena, keeping the building updated and maintained for users to be able to continue to enjoy the ice year-round. The Beaver Dam Family Center hosts the Beaver Dam Hockey Association, Swan City Ice Skaters and the Beaver Dam High School girls and boys hockey teams. Grants like these help keep skating accessible and allows for ice sports teams and organizations to continue to operate.

The $500 grant was given to the Beaver Dam Hockey Association, which is a volunteer-run organization. The grant went towards the association’s free Learn to Skate Program. The program allows youth to try hockey without families having to worry about costs.

“Our goal is to make that first step into hockey as easy as possible for families,” said Jason Drake, Beaver Dam Hockey Association Vice President and Learn to Skate Director. “Families shouldn’t have to invest in equipment just to find out if their child loves hockey. We can get kids on the ice, give them the equipment they need and let them experience the sport. Support like this helps us continue creating those opportunities.”

In the past year the program has had 124 children enrolled in the free Learn to Skate Program and has 148 registered players. 79% of new players for the 2026-27 season started out in the free Learn to Skate Program. Grants such as the one from the Beaver Dam Area Community Foundation help support youth sports programs like Learn to Skate and make it possible for kids to try new things while removing financial worries for families.

To support Beaver Dam Hockey and its programs, community members can contact Kayla

Larson, Treasurer, at treasurer@beaverdamhockey.com. For additional information or to make a donation to the Beaver Dam Area Community Foundation, community members can contact Tom Heffron, President, at bdtoyman@gmail.com or (920) 763-2618.