DELAFIELD, Wis. – Crystal Axe Charities hosted its fourth annual Battle for the Crystal Axe golf scramble Wednesday, June 17, directing proceeds to three nonprofit organizations working to improve lives on both sides of the Wisconsin-Minnesota border. The event has now raised more than $500,000 over its four years.
The 18-hole golf fundraiser brought together University of Wisconsin and University of Minnesota sports legends in a friendly border battle for the coveted Crystal Axe trophy, resulting in a repeat win for Wisconsin.
This year’s charity partners included:
- Team One Four – Working with former University of Minnesota football player and six-time cancer survivor Casey O’Brien, Team One Four is raising $1 million to transform the ninth floor of M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital.
- Saving Others for Archie (SOFA) – Founded in memory of Archie Badura, a 19-year-old who died from a fentanyl overdose in 2014, SOFA raises awareness about the dangers of opioid addiction to prevent similar tragedies.
- Meta House – Meta House helps women and families overcome substance use disorders through comprehensive treatment, recovery support and family-centered services that promote long-term healing and stability.
“At Meta House, we know that when a woman heals, her whole family heals, and that ripple effect extends throughout our community,” said Meta House President and CEO Valerie Vidal. “The generosity of Crystal Axe Charities and everyone who participated in this tournament helps make that healing possible. This support means more women across Wisconsin will have access to the comprehensive, gender-responsive care they need to reclaim their lives and futures.”
The spirit of community impact resonated with other beneficiaries as well.
“From the dedicated organizers to every committed and competitive foursome, this event is so fun and truly exceptional. Each year, I’m blown away by the positive energy and proud to be part of it,” said SOFA founder Lauri Badura. “The generosity of everyone who kindly donated will make a meaningful difference, change lives and bring hope to those who need it most. I’m truly grateful for the unwavering support and the big hearts behind it all.”
The event was supported by Evans Transportation, a Wisconsin-based third-party logistics provider, through Evans Makes a Difference – the company’s charitable initiative through which Evans gives back 10% of its net income annually to organizations in the communities where its team members live and work.
“The Battle for the Crystal Axe started as a fun way to bring the Wisconsin-Minnesota rivalry to the golf course, and it’s become one of the most meaningful events we support through Evans Makes a Difference every year,” said Evans Transportation CEO Ryan Keepman. “Giving back has been part of Evans since it was founded, and days like this are exactly why we do it.”
Sports legends and current players in attendance included members of both the Badgers’ and Gophers’ football, hockey and softball teams, including Joe Thomas, Brooks Bollinger, Ryan Groy, Tarek Saleh, Luke Fickell, Hunter Wohler, Owen Arnett and Nick Hayden.
For more information on the Battle for the Crystal Axe, visit crystalaxe.com.
For more information on Evans Transportation and Evans Makes a Difference, visit evanstrans.com.
About Evans Transportation
Founded in 1985, Evans is a family-owned, full-service, third-party provider of custom logistics solutions for a diverse range of North American shippers. A private company based in Wisconsin and fueled by more than 40 years of industry experience. Evans operates across the country, with key offices in Laredo, TX; Minneapolis, MN; Chattanooga, TN; Atlanta, GA; and Santa Rosa Beach, FL. As a single-source, end-to-end transportation management provider, Evans takes a collaborative, customer-first approach – investing the time and energy to understand customer needs and create innovative, strategic solutions that help them become better shippers. Evans works with customers in a range of industries, including automotive, chemicals and plastics, energy and oil, food and beverage, healthcare, manufacturing, technology and electronics.
