Tricia and Putter Bauer asked the community to donate to the MHS Sports Complex after their son Nathan’s death. We asked them to reflect on how the building of the complex has become their passion.
Q. What is your definition of philanthropy?
A. To pay it forward, leave a positive mark on your community by doing the right thing. We are blessed and want to spread that blessing to others in our community. I am inspired by the poem “The Dash†by Linda Ellis, which talks about the dash; there’s the year you’re born and the year you die and the dash is in between, and how you want to live your dash and be remembered. When you lose somebody you have two choices: you can curl up in a corner or live on for yourself and for them. We chose the sports complex because Nathan was passionate about sports. We lost him at the age of 26 and he accomplished so much in those 26 years, but we know he would have accomplished so much more…so we took the approach that we would continue with some of the things he wanted to see happen. If he were alive today, he would be campaigning for that sports complex. The complex was to be an extention to his classroom. He had a passion for working with special needs children and he wanted these kids to experience a space where they will feel comfortable and feel that they could compete.
Q. Why do you give back?
A. The Memononie community is a wonderful community, we always knew that, but we really found out the extent of what a great community this is through our experience with Nathan’s passing. We feel like we owe something back to this community. What can we do that would make a lasting impact? The sports complex is something we feel has longevity to it, something the community will benefit from for decades. We have reaped the benefits of our community, but these benefits don’t just happen. Water parks, bike trails, libraries, these things don’t just appear out of nowhere. It’s because someone before us was generous and good and wanted to give back to their community. It can’t stop here. We owe it to this community to keep it going, to continue allowing it to thrive. We want to see our children and their children to live the life we have been blessed to live.
Q. What causes are close to your heart?
A. Other than the sports complex, anything involving the youth is very near to our heart. We have tried to stay involved with the school because they are our future and they are what makes our community whole. We appreciate all the support the community has given us and we are so thankful to be part of it.
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The Menomonie Area Sports Complex Capital Campaign was a project to raise funds for the building of a sports complex at Menomonie High School. The School District and the volunteer fundraising group teamed up with the Community Foundation of Dunn County to manage public donations toward the project.
Bart Boettcher, Associate Principal and Athletic Director at Menomonie High explains just how this project is coming together.
Q. Why does Menomonie need a new complex?
A. The idea for the Menomonie Sports Complex started about two years ago, when our coaches and community members wer consistently asking why we do not have a track here at Menomonie High School. We started a committee and began planning and fundraising. Jim Schmidt, the Chair of the committee, really led the charge.
Q. What does the complex mean for MHS?
A. Coaches, teachers, parents, and even students have played an important part in the vision for this complex. All of our athletics coaches were on board for the track especially–not only does it greatly benefit all of the athletics programs, it provides a classroom for our physical education department. The community will also benefit, as it will be open for public use. Residents may visit to walk the track or have a picnic in the plaza.
Q. How are the plans going?
A. The project is currently in phase one of three. The bulk of phase one will be the construction of the track, soccer, and football fields, which is scheduled to break ground this spring. We will also be installing a small set of bleachers as well as the entrance archway. We hope to be playing on the fields this fall.
Q. Nathan Bauer’s family and friends are passionate in their support of the project. What do you think of their commitment to raise funds for MHS?
A. Nathan Bauer passed away in an automobile accident last spring. I knew Nathan very well. I coached and taught him when I was a teacher here and I hired Nathan to come back to teach and coach after he was finished with college. He was an incredible person with an incredible heart who genuinely cared for other people. Nathan would have been front and center of this project if he was still with us today. He was a track and football star when he was a student here and influenced so many kids in the short amount of time he taught and coached here. His presence is here every day and his legacy will live on in the Menomonie Sports Complex.