Bourbon & Beer Fundraiser Returns July 21st
Most people don't think about what's underneath the ice. They lace up, step onto the rink, and trust that it'll be there the next time. But for us, keeping that ice frozen has become one of the most urgent challenges in the organization's history and on Tuesday, July 21, the community has a chance to do something about it over a good pour of bourbon and some fantastic opportunities to win big.
Our annual Bourbon & Beer fundraiser returns to Eagle Waters Resort on July 21, with doors opening at 5:30 P.M. The evening features bourbon and beer tastings, heavy hors d'oeuvres, a live auction, a silent auction, raffle baskets, and a commemorative glass for every guest. More importantly, every dollar raised goes directly into the Ice Plant Fund, the campaign to replace the aging refrigeration chillers that keep both of Eagle River's ice sheets running.
"Join us on July 21st at Eagle Waters for the annual Bourbon & Beer fundraiser to help save the ice at the ERRA," said event organizer Kate Mors Egan. "Guests attending Bourbon & Beer will enjoy a fun-filled evening. This is a wonderful opportunity to support local youth while enjoying a memorable night with friends and fellow community members."
What Is an Ice Plant…and Why Should You Care?
Our facility is home to two sheets of ice: the Dome and the Cube. Each one is kept frozen by a refrigeration chiller which is a large mechanical system that circulates coolant beneath the ice surface. Without a working chiller, there is no ice. It's that simple.
The existing chillers are old, unreliable, and running on borrowed time. The refrigerant they use is increasingly difficult to source. The risk of a mid-season failure isn't hypothetical…it is the reality the organization navigates every single year.
The good news? The community has already shown up (and shown up big). Thanks to the generosity of heavy hitting donors including the Eckes Family Foundation, Eagle River Treehouses, Darrell and Paula Slizewski, Tradition On Ice with Pines alumni Jinelle Siergiej, Michael Siergiej & Jeff Carr, multiple anonymous major contributors, past generous Bourbon and Beer attendees, and countless others, ERRA has raised $643,027 of its $1.2 million goal. That momentum has produced a real, tangible milestone: the Cube chiller replacement is now fully funded and on the schedule for installation this summer or early fall. Before the first skate of the season, the Cube will have a brand new reliable system!
But the Dome chiller still needs approx. $550,000 before it can be replaced.
"This year's Bourbon & Beer fundraiser is crucial to securing the final phase of the replacement chillers for the rink," said Jenni Renkes, Treasurer of the ERRA Board of Directors. "With the new system we will have a chiller that operates the Cube ice and one that operates the Dome ice. We have currently raised enough money to install the new Cube chiller late this summer/early fall. We still need to raise another $550,000 in order to secure and install the chiller for the Dome. While we continue to raise the funds, the Dome ice will be running on the old system. The sooner we can raise the money, the sooner we can have new chillers for both sheets of ice."
More Than a Rink
For generations of Eagle River families, the Dome and the Cube aren't just buildings and the ERRA has served the area's youth and beyond since the 1930s, and the rink is one of the Northwoods' most consistent economic engines drawing tournament teams, hockey camps, figure skating shows and competitions and visiting families who fill local hotels, restaurants, and shops even in low snow years. Losing reliable ice wouldn't just be a loss for skaters. It would be felt across the entire community.
How to Help
Attend: Tickets are available at the door for $75. Or online HERE. Doors open at 5:30 P.M., Monday, July 21 at Eagle Waters Resort, Eagle River, Wisconsin. Come hungry, come thirsty, and come ready to bid!
Sponsor: Local businesses can step up with a Goal Crusher Sponsorship for $1,500, which includes five tickets, a week-long roadside sign, social media recognition, and a thank-you sign at the event. Connect with rinkmanager@gmail.com to secure your spot!
Donate: Can't make it July 21? Donations to the Ice Plant Fund are accepted year-round at erra.com. ERRA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, all donations are tax deductible and tracked in a dedicated fund. Click here to donate!
The finish line is visible. With $643,027 already raised and the Cube chiller funded, ERRA is more than halfway there. But the Dome needs this community to show up on July 21, and then some.