In Winter or Spring, iSledders Warms the Heart

 

I know spring has sprung, and the snow is a faint memory (at least for the majority of us), but now is as good a time as any to applaud and share some great news from iWarriors, which held its second annual iSledders Charity Snowmobile Ride in February, raising $5,500.

For those who may not know about iWarriors, it is an organization founded in 2011 by Tim and Kim Bartz. Tim is co-owner of Mold-Craft, Inc. in Willernie, Minnesota. iWarriors is a non-profit organization whose mission it is to provide a measure of support to troops returning from combat—most of whom are single, double or even triple amputees—by giving them iPads that will help them keep in touch with friends and family members while they undergo multiple surgeries and rehabilitation.

But back to iSledders! The event brings together mold building colleagues for a unique weekend of fun and camaraderie, snowmobiling through the North woods while benefitting the iWarriors Foundation at the same time. According to Kim Bartz, a group of 13 sledders ventured up to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula this year, where they snowmobiled for two days, logging about 300 miles. The sledders included Tim and Kim, Wayne Sikorcin and Collin Horn of Craftsman Tool and Mold, Don and Andy Snow from CS Tool, Doug and Jacob Niggemann from Alliance Laser Sales, Tim Holland from Metro Mold, and Don and Glenn Starkey with Todd Steinhoff, all of Progressive Components. Funds were raised through the efforts of these individuals and others who sold 50/50 raffle tickets leading up to the iSledders event.

Kim reported that the $5,500 raised for the iWarriors iPad program helped purchase eight iPads. “We engraved the iPads and shipped them out to members of our armed forces that were wounded in combat,” she said. “Thus far iWarriors has raised just over $30,000 in 2016 for the iPad program.”

iWarriors grows continually stronger in its mission, with much support given by members of the American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) and others. Incidentally, Tim Bartz was named the AMBA’s Mold Builder of the Year last year. Tim may build molds for a living, but he and Kim have together built a wonderful foundation that warms a person’s heart and provides a unique way to support our nation’s heroes.