13th Annual Wings Etc. Toys for Tots Softball Tournament Raises a Record $32,000
The November 2–3 tournament is a highlight amid a year of generous community support.
MISHAWAKA, Ind. — It’s another big year for the Wings Etc. Toys for Tots Softball Tournament. Now in its 13th year, the event, held November 2–3, 2024, raised a record-breaking $32,000 for children in the Michiana community.
The event consists of a men’s tournament and a co-ed tournament at Byers Softball Complex in South Bend, Indiana. Last year the event raised a then-record $26,500. This is the 11th year that Wings Etc. has served as its primary sponsor.
This year’s tournament included 23 men’s teams and 23 co-ed teams. Teams have come from as many as four different states. The team entry fee is $195; most teams pay $200 or more, and many participants donate toys as well. The registration fee goes toward the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program.
Wings Etc.’s commitment to Toys for Tots includes placing Toys for Tots drop-off bins in area restaurants. This year, the effort resulted in more than 300 new, unwrapped toys for children in the Michiana region, via donation boxes as well as at the tournament. More than 2,600 toys have been collected since the tournament’s inception.
Wings Etc. gives each player in the Wings Etc. Toys for Tots Softball Tournament a $5 Wing Nut Bucks coupon. The winning team in each league gets a $175 Wings Etc. gift card, with a $100 gift card for second place; a $75 gift card for third place; and a $50 gift card for fourth place.
Wings Etc. also hosted a banquet December 13 at the Wings Etc. restaurant at 11480 McKinley Highway in Osceola, Indiana. During that event, the tournament’s longtime organizer, Mike Curry, held a raffle with prizes from around the community to secure funds toward the following year’s campaign; this year, that raffle raised another $850. The banquet includes an award ceremony, with trophies for the winning teams, sponsor awards, and recognition awards for those who display the true meaning of the Toys for Tots spirit during the tournament or go above and beyond to help out.
Curry offers tournament jerseys, long-sleeved tees and hoodies for purchase, with proceeds benefiting Toys for Tots. He also organizes the Michiana Chrysler Home Run Derby, the Armed Forces Battle for the Tots and the Annual Toys for Tots Ugly Sweater Christmas Draft Tournament.
The 13-year total raised for Toys for Tots is $183,000.
Curry presented a giant check to the Marine Corp Reserves on December 13. The Marines shop for the remaining toys needed with those funds.
“We’re tremendously gratified but never surprised by the generosity of our community,” said Wings Etc. CEO Rob Hensmann. “They demonstrate the true spirit of Christmas.”
The softball tournament spotlights Wings Etc.’s practice of giving back year-round. The company is a force for good within the Michiana community where it got its start. The restaurants in the region have supported more than 75 local organizations, some more than once, via direct gifts or through the Dine-To-Donate program in which local organizations can earn a percentage of a day’s sales from a restaurant.
“This sense of community means the world to us,” says Wings Etc. founder Jim Weaver. “We truly appreciate the support that people have shown for Wings Etc., and we’re honored by the opportunity to give back.”
As a company, Wings Etc.’s charitable philosophy includes a partnership with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the formation in 2023 of The Wings Etc. Foundation. The Wings Etc. Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization administered by leaders in the Wings Etc. Grill & Pub franchise organization and its affiliated companies, with the mission of “Improving children’s lives.” The full details are available at wingsetcfoundation.com.
2024 Wings Etc. Michiana Giving
| Organization | City | State | Supported |
| La Porte Community School Corporation – Boys Track & Field | La Porte | IN | Dine-To-Donate |
| La Porte Slice Baseball | La Porte | IN | Dine-To-Donate |
| La Porte Pop Warner | La Porte | IN | Dine-To-Donate |
| La Porte Community School Corporation — Girls Basketball | La Porte | IN | Dine-To-Donate |
| La Porte Community School Corporation — Speech & Debate Team | La Porte | IN | Dine-To-Donate |
| Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church | La Porte | IN | Dine-To-Donate |
| St. Jude Catholic Church and School | South Bend | IN | Dine-To-Donate |
| La Porte Community School Corporation — Girls Reserve | La Porte | IN | Dine-To-Donate |
| La Porte Community School Corporation — Girls Track & Field | La Porte | IN | Dine-To-Donate |
| La Porte Crush Baseball | La Porte | IN | Dine-To-Donate |
| La Porte Community School Corporation — Student Council | La Porte | IN | Dine-To-Donate |
| Bandits Youth Baseball LLC | South Bend | IN | Dine-To-Donate |
| Penn Robotics Parent Organization | Mishawaka | IN | Dine-To-Donate |
| La Porte Community School Corporation — Huddle Club | La Porte | IN | Dine-To-Donate |
| Humane Society of St. Joseph County IN Inc. | Mishawaka | IN | Dine-To-Donate |
| Southeast Little League of South Bend Inc. | South Bend | IN | Dine-To-Donate |
| Elkhart Christian Academy Inc. | Elkhart | IN | Dine-To-Donate |
| Compassionate Health Center | Rochester | IN | Dine-To-Donate |
| Jimtown Elementary PTO | Elkhart | IN | Dine-To-Donate |
| Union-North United School Corporation — LaVille High School Football | Lakeville | IN | Dine-To-Donate |
| La Porte Community Turbos Swim Club | La Porte | IN | Dine-To-Donate |
| City of La Porte — Youth Softball | La Porte | IN | Dine-To-Donate |
| City of La Porte — Major & Minor League Baseball | La Porte | IN | Dine-To-Donate |
| American Legion Post 36 | Rochester | IN | Dine-To-Donate |
| Greater La Porte Pop Warner Football & Cheer Association | Rolling Prairie | IN | Dine-To-Donate |
| Greater South Bend Area Pop Warner Little Scholars Football Association Inc. | South Bend | IN | Dine-To-Donate |
| South Bend Community School Corporation — Riley High School Teachers | South Bend | IN | Dine-To-Donate |
| St. Jude Catholic Church and School | South Bend | IN | Dine-To-Donate |
| Pioneer Faith Ministries of Elkhart | Elkhart | IN | Easter Meal Donation |
| Elkhart County Youth for Christ | Elkhart | IN | Gift Card Donation |
| Hope Ministries of South Bend | South Bend | IN | Easter Meal Donation |
| Howard Township Baseball League | Niles | MI | Outfield Baseball Banner Sponsorship |
| Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #54 | La Porte | IN | Drug Awareness Manual Ad |
| City of Niles, Michigan | Niles | MI | The Great Lakes Burn Camp — Camp Sponsorship |
| Niles Elks Lodge #1322 | Niles | MI | Youth Anti-Drug Program Ad |
| St. Joe Valley Association United States Bowling Congress | South Bend | IN | Bowling Team Sponsorship |
| Professional Sports Publications | New York | New York | Notre Dame Basketball Yearbook Ad |
| Landsharks 14U | South Bend | IN | Travel Baseball Team Sponsor |
| La Porte Pop Warner | La Porte | IN | Travel Cheer Team Sponsor |
| Team Trussell Racing | Niles | MI | Stock Car Sponsor |
| Red Hot Car Show | Rochester | IN | Car Show Event Sponsor |
| Concord Little League | Elkhart | IN | Little League Team Sponsor |
| Michigan Life in Numbers | Dowagiac | MI | 3rd Annual Golf Outing — Snack Cart Sponsor |
| South Bend Parks & Recreation | South Bend | IN | Men’s Softball — Team Sponsorship |
| South Bend Parks & Recreation | South Bend | IN | Co-Ed — Team Sponsorship |
| Buchanan Football Boosters | Buchanan | MI | Golf Outing — Hole Sponsor |
| Brandywine High School | Niles | MI | Golf Outing — Corporate Sponsor |
| Elkhart Parks and Recreation | Elkhart | IN | Men’s Softball — Team Sponsorship |
| Lollar Racing Inc. | Niles | MI | Cody Lollar — Stock Car Sponsor |
| School City of Mishawaka | Mishawaka | IN | Mishawaka High School Football & Basketball Athletics Sponsorship |
| Niles Vikings Athletics Boosters | Niles | MI | Golf Outing — Corporate Sponsor |
| Elkhart High School | Elkhart | IN | Boys Tennis Sponsor |
| Niles High School | Niles | MI | Athletics Sponsor |
| United Way of Northwest Indiana Inc. | Valparaiso | IN | Dine-To-Donate |
| Valparaiso Parks and Recreation Department | Valparaiso | IN | Lit’l Kernel Puff Youth Run — Event Sponsor |
| Valparaiso Parks and Recreation Department | Valparaiso | IN | Popcorn Panic Youth Run — Event Sponsor |
| Boys & Girls Club of Greater Northwest Indiana Inc. | Portage | IN | Dine-To-Donate |
| Sweet Adelines International | Valparaiso | IN | Dine-To-Donate (Great Lakes Sound Chorus) |
| Habitat for Humanity of Porter County | Valparaiso | IN | Dine-To-Donate |
| Immanuel Lutheran Church | Valparaiso | IN | Dine-To-Donate |
| Lakeshore Paws Inc. | Valparaiso | IN | Dine-To-Donate |
| Porter County Aging and Community Services | Valparaiso | IN | Dine-To-Donate |
| Four Flags United States Bowling Congress | Niles | MI | Bowling Team Sponsorship |
| Sweet Pea Foundation | South Bend | IN | Golf Outing — Hole Sponsor |
| Brandywine High School | Niles | MI | Musical Theater — Program Ad |
| Penn High School | Mishawaka | IN | Fall & Winter Athletics Sponsorship |
| The Humane Society of Hobart Inc. | Hobart | IN | Dine-To-Donate |
| Valparaiso Americans Inc. | Valparaiso | IN | Dine-To-Donate (Valparaiso Americans Baseball) |
| Southeast Little League of South Bend Inc. | South Bend | IN | Dine-To-Donate |
| The Window Inc. | Goshen | IN | Dine-To-Donate |
| Fulton County Habitat for Humanity | Rochester | IN | Dine-To-Donate |
| Rochester Community School Corporation | Rochester | IN | Dine-To-Donate (FCCLA Club) |
| Mishawaka-Marian High School | Mishawaka | IN | Fall & Spring Athletics Sponsorship |
| Fairfield High School | Goshen | IN | Winter Athletics Sponsorship |
| Valparaiso University | Valparaiso | IN | Athletics Sponsor |
| Concord High School | Elkhart | IN | Winter Athletics Sponsorship |
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About Wings Etc. Grill & Pub
Wings Etc. is proud to celebrate 30 years of growth and good times this year. Founded in 1994 by Jim Weaver in northern Indiana, Wings Etc. is a family-friendly grill and pub featuring award-winning jumbo Buffalo wings, 22 signature sauces and rubs, dozens of TVs tuned to sports programming and a casual, non-corporate-y, laid-back vibe that makes people want to just come in and hang out. See wingsetc.com.
With more than 80 corporate and franchise locations, Wings Etc. has been listed among Entrepreneur magazine’s “Top 500 Franchises” every year since 2021 and was included in the magazine’s “Top Five Best Sports Bars” in 2021. It has been named one of Franchise Business Review’s “Top Food Franchises” every year since 2020 and a “Top 200 Franchise” every year since 2019. Wings Etc. has been included in Franchise Gator’s “Top 100 Franchises” seven times since 2014 and its “Fastest Growing Franchises” seven times since 2016; it was among the “Top Emerging Franchises” in 2023. It has been named a “Top 400 Franchise” by Franchise Times every year since 2021 and a “Top 500 Franchise” by Nation’s Restaurant News every year since 2021. See www.wingsetcfranchise.com.
The Wings Etc. Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization committed to improving children’s lives. See www.wingsetcfoundation.com.
©2024 Wings Etc., Inc. Franchises independently owned and operated.
Photos courtesy of Wings Etc. Grill and Pub
Photo 1: Wings Etc. Toys for Tots Softball Tournament organizer Mike Curry with the Marine Corps Reserve.
Photo 2: Wings Etc. Toys for Tots Softball Tournament donated $32,000 for children in the Michiana community.
Photo 3: Organizer Mike Curry received this year’s recognition award for displaying the true meaning of the Toys for Tots spirit during the tournament and going above and beyond to help out.
Photo 4: The December 13 banquet in Osceola included an award ceremony, with trophies for the winning teams and sponsor awards, as well as a bin for new toy donations.
Section: Giving Back