Fremont parcel to be sold to raise funds
By Angie Landsverk
As the marketing director for the Webfooters, Chris Brouch believes no idea is out of bounds as a way to raise funds for the nonprofit organization.
“Everything we do, as far as working with area businesses, is trying to find synergy – where it makes sense for them to invest in us,” he said.
Brouch said board members are used to wondering what words will come out of his month when he gives his report at monthly meetings.
“We’re going to become land owners,” he told them at a meeting last year.
That was after Bank First brought forward the idea of donating property to the organization.
He said Bank First has been working with the Webfooters for about three to four years.
“They really like our mission,” Brouch said.
The amateur team performs free water ski shows for the public during the summer.
The shows take place on the Wolf River in Fremont.
“They knew right away we’re not in need of property,” Brouch said. “It’s more or less a fundraiser.”
Bank First transferred two commercial lots to the nonprofit on Thursday, Jan. 28.
The lots are located in Grey Goose Landing, in the town of Fremont.
Brouch said the combined acreage of the two lots (No. 79 and No. 80) is 2.51 acres.
The total assessed value of the property is $45,000, he said.
There were no transaction fees or out-of-pocket expenses for the Webfooters, he said.
“We are proud to support the Webfooters through this donation. As a result of the challenges many area businesses, families and nonprofit organizations have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been seeking opportunities to give back in a variety of ways,” said Mike Molepske, CEO of Bank First.
He said, “As an avid barefoot waterskier, I have personally experienced the benefits organizations such as the Webfooters provide to families and most importantly, our youth. The Webfooters are very deserving of this donation, and we look forward to watching them continue to wow crowds during their shows and develop children into confident, respectful members of our community for years to come.”
Incredible partner
Brouch described Bank First as an “incredible” partner.
He said they are engaged with the Webfooters, asking how the organization can continue to be its best and how they can help it do so.
“They’re really a phenomenal partner,” Brouch said.
Bank First acquired the land as part of its merger with First National Bank of Waupaca in 2017, Molepske said.
He said Bank First knows there is good value in the land, but there is a limited amount of time nationally-chartered banks can hold real-estate per its regulators.
Instead of selling the land, they felt it would be a great opportunity to give back to a nonprofit organization in the community by donating the land, Molepske said.
He said Bank First selected the Webfooters because the land is close to its current show site in Fremont.
In addition, Bank First wanted to give back to an organization that was adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Molepske said.
With the Webfooters’ season being canceled in 2020, Bank First felt the donation would benefit the many families the ski team supports throughout the year.
“It was not realistic to do shows,” Brouch said of last summer.
That meant the nonprofit was also not able to raise funds in the manner it usually does.
Donations needed
“The shows are 100% free, but we humbly ask for donations and work hard on concession sales,” Brouch said.
In addition to not being able to raise funds at shows, the Webfooters did not have its annual raffle last year.
Members of the team were also not able to volunteer in the concession stands at Lambeau Field as a way to raise funds.
While there was not a season, the Webfooters continued to work on the development of the younger members of its team last summer.
Brouch said that means the organization did incur some expenses.
Two to three nights per week last summer, there were time blocks for youth development.
There was no gathering, with everything sterilized in between those who practiced, he said.
Molepske said Bank First is passionate about the Webfooters’ mission of educating youth on watersport safety and instilling in its members a wide array of positive character traits, including self-confidence, initiative, teamwork, accountability, and civic and community responsibility.
With the donation of the property official, the Webfooters organization is now getting a plan in place for how to handle the sale of it.
“We have a couple real estate professionals on the team,” Brouch said.
They have given advice on how to proceed.
“We’re going to try to move forward with it pretty soon,” he said.
Brouch said in a perfect scenario, the Webfooters would like to move on with the sale of the property before the start of this year’s season.
Looking at the COVID-19 vaccination schedule, “the Webfooters are extremely hopeful, extremely optimistic” about having a season this year, he said.