September 23, 2025 – West Bend, WI – Dear West Bend Community,
What an incredible week. We want to share an update on what made the 16th Avenue Flood Benefit on Wednesday, September 17, such a remarkable success. The outpouring of support for the affected families has filled us with immense pride to be part of this community. Words cannot fully express our gratitude to everyone who contributed to making this event a resounding triumph!
We extend our heartfelt thanks to:
• The owners of Gary’s Place, who generously provided their venue, and their dedicated staff, who worked tirelessly to serve food and beverages throughout the evening.
• The Cedar Sons and Downtown Harrison, who donated their time and talent to entertain the wonderful crowd.
• Our dedicated volunteers, who managed the event, handled ticket sales, and ran the raffles with enthusiasm.
• The individuals, local businesses, and community organizations who overwhelmed us with donation baskets and generous financial contributions.
• And, most importantly, ALL OF YOU who packed the house from start to finish, showing these families, they are not alone. From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU.
Thanks to your generosity, we raised over $20,000 to help these eight families repair and rebuild their lives—far surpassing our initial hopes. We are working to distribute 100% of these funds equally among the families as quickly as possible. Beyond the financial support, each family has shared how deeply touched they are by the love and care shown by this community—a blessing that means just as much as the funds raised.
We feel truly blessed to be part of a community that looks out for one another in such a profound way. It’s a rare and special thing, and it makes us proud to call ourselves “Benders.”
May God bless each and every one of you and may you all enjoy a beautiful and prosperous fall season.
With deepest gratitude,
Your 16th Avenue Flood Relief Benefit Organizers
Chris & Jenni Thompson Family
Riley & Ashley Hansen Family
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