SHANE HUDELLA - PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER OF UNITED HEROES LEAGUE
Shane grew up in Hastings and was a member of the National Guard from 1988 to 2012, including a deployment to Iraq. In 2008 Shane met Brent Burns, then with the Minnesota Wild, who offered to help. In 2009 the Organization was formed as Defending the Blue Line. The entity has grown beyond hockey to many other sports. The mission of the United Heroes League is to ensure that children of military members are afforded every opportunity to participate in sports.
Shane grew up in Hastings and was a member of the National Guard from 1988 to 2012, including a deployment to Iraq. In 2008 Shane met Brent Burns, then with the Minnesota Wild, who offered to help. In 2009 the Organization was formed as Defending the Blue Line. The entity has grown beyond hockey to many other sports. The mission of the United Heroes League is to ensure that children of military members are afforded every opportunity to participate in sports.Shane showed a video which provided a terrific example of how the program helps families of service members. www.nbcsports.com/video/charity-organization-helps-military-families-play-hockey.
The program relies heavily on player partners with numerous sports teams around the country and as players move to new teams they take their passion for the mission to their new teams which has fueled the growth of the organization, enabling them to serve more families. They are up to 109 pro athletes, 30 pro teams in 24 markets. They have a 90% giving percentage while employing five full time and two part time employees with one full time volunteer.
Check out their web site at www.unitedheroesleague.org
ANNOUNCEMENTS
- 4/12 – Swallowship 5-6:30. Location TBD
- 4/16 to 20 - Meals on Wheels. See John Goergen if you can help.
- 4/19 - Ethics Luncheon at Edina CC
- 4/30 – Above and Beyond
- 5/8 – Strive Breakfast at Community Center
- 5/21 District Conference at Guthrie. Marilyn Carlson-Nelson will provide keynote address.
- 6/19 – Irene Kelly inauguration
- 6/23 to 6/27 RI in Toronto
- 6/30 – 7/25 Yura Koh, Rotary New Generation college student from North Korea will be visiting this summer. See Dennis Kim if you can be host family or provide opportunity to visit your business.
SPOTLIGHT ON JOHN ESTALL
John grew up in Richfield, graduated from Bemidji State University and then law school. John worked for a local company for a while before moving on to Cargill where he met his wife who was also employed there. They have a 27-year- old daughter and 24-year- old son. John left Cargill at 40 to become VP of Finance at a printing company. John reduced his schedule to part-time while his children were in school. Once they had grown, he took up teaching at Minnesota State – Mankato. John and his wife will be retiring this summer and they plan to travel.
John grew up in Richfield, graduated from Bemidji State University and then law school. John worked for a local company for a while before moving on to Cargill where he met his wife who was also employed there. They have a 27-year- old daughter and 24-year- old son. John left Cargill at 40 to become VP of Finance at a printing company. John reduced his schedule to part-time while his children were in school. Once they had grown, he took up teaching at Minnesota State – Mankato. John and his wife will be retiring this summer and they plan to travel.John encouraged members to attend the Above and Beyond banquet April 30th
HAPPY BUCKS
- Becky Deelstra – invited women to attend Power of 100 event at Hilton Garden Inn in EP from 6 to 8 p.m. Kim Kane author of Sparkle On will be keynote speaker.
- John Crudele – recounted his visit with employees at Discount Tire and learning of their values which were very much aligned with his.
- Brad Aho – invited members to purchase tickets to EP Community Foundation Gala 4/28 at Oak Ridge in Chaska.
- Josh Swanson – happy about two new principals and new assistant superintendent.
- Glenn Olson – grateful for decision not to take the ferry in Cozumel which exploded while he was visiting recently.
- Dave Anderson – Happy to be back in MN from Florida but not so happy about the weather that greeted them upon their return.
- Roger Jorgensen – Shared a sports inspiration and encouraged all to attend Above and Beyond