By Kevin Scott and Patty Rearden
GREAT FALLS, Mont., March 27, 2025 — The Great Falls Sports Foundation (formerly the Confero Sports Foundation) Mixer on Wednesday, April 9th at the Exhibition Hall at Montana ExpoPark. This event is an annual event that raises funds to support athletic competitions that take place in Great Falls and also supports a specific cause in Great Falls. This year, they have committed to donate half of the funds raised to the Ice Plex for continuing improvements.
The primary goal of the Great Falls Sports Foundation is to assist in bringing major events to Great Falls and the surrounding area, providing significant economic impact to the City. Funds raised by the Great Falls Sports Foundation are used to ensure a long-term commitment to the major sports events held in Great Falls and to offer support to other potential events looking at our community as a destination. The Foundation’s fundraising efforts include the annual Great Falls Sports Foundation Mixer which provides the majority of funds for the Foundation.
Great Falls Sports Foundation is partnering with Great Falls Community Ice Foundation this year for the Foundation Mixer this upcoming April. The Ice Foundation will assist with raising funds and providing silent auction items in order to provide financial benefits for the Great Falls Ice Plex. The complex is used for figure skating, youth and adult hockey, public skating and other skating activities, events, and programs. It is also the home facility for the Great Falls Americans Hockey Team and the University of Providence Hockey Program as well as the host venue for large youth hockey tournaments, adult league hockey tournaments and figure skating competitions, all bringing economic impact to Great Falls. You can help by attending the Great Falls Sports Foundation Mixer:
Great Falls Sports Foundation Mixer, Wednesday, April 9, 5:30 p.m., Exhibition Hall at Montana ExpoPark:
- Guest Speaker: Bob Green, Former Head Football Coach for Montana Tech University and frequent Keynote Speaker
- Complimentary Food, donated by local restaurants in support of the Foundation
- No-host Beverages
- 50/50 Drawings
- Silent Auction
- Music
- Games and Prizes
“The Foundation is excited to concentrate their efforts with the Great Falls Community Ice Foundation to make a significant economic impact for the Great Falls community,” said Sports Foundation Chairman Roger Lesofski, “and we know attendees will enjoy speaker Bob Green along with the other Mixer highlights.”
The funds raised by the Great Falls Sports Foundation are used to ensure a long-term commitment to the major sports events held in Great Falls and to offer support to other potential sports events looking at our community as a destination. The total contributions from the Foundation equal over $455,000 providing financial support for major sporting events, attracting thousands of fans to Great Falls for 2 or 3 days, benefiting the community with entertainment and economic impact. The Foundation has traditionally underwritten divisional and state high school basketball tournaments in Great Falls, and has now expanded its efforts to support other sporting events and bringing new major events to Great Falls.
The Mixer is a fun social event and a great way to say thank you to employees or business associates, friends or family members. The cost of the Mixer is $25.00 per ticket or a book of 10 tickets for $200. The ticket books are available for purchase now at Montana ExpoPark, 300 3rd St. N.W. or by contacting Matt Leaf (MattL.GFAmericans@gmail.com) if interested in attending to purchase your tickets.
Great Falls Sports Foundation Mixer Highlight:
Bob Green, Former Head Football Coach for Montana Tech University
Bob Green, former head football for Montana Tech University and frequent keynote speaker, will be the Guest Speaker at the Great Falls Sports Foundation Mixer on Wednesday, April 9 at 5:30 p.m. in the Exhibition Hall at Montana ExpoPark. Bob will be presenting “Producing Positive Production”, focusing on positive attitude, leadership and culture building. Well known for his vibrant personality and his “Green-isms”, he will be both entertaining and informative.
Over his 24-year coaching career at the university, from 1987 to 2010, Coach Green was the winningest football coach in the university’s history, posting a 140-116-1 record that includes five trips to the NAIA National Playoffs and the 1996 NAIA championship game. Bob Green has brought attention and notoriety to Montana Tech. He’s a legend at Tech and has poured his heart and soul into everything Oredigger as a coach, administrator and fundraiser.
Green is a Marine Corps veteran who served in the Vietnam War. After completing his service, Green earned a football scholarship by walking on as a freshman at Kearney State University (now University of Nebraska State University at Kearney). Green was a self-professed “gym rat” and one day after his senior season wrapped up, his coaches called him in and asked if he would be an assistant coach in exchange for a scholarship to allow him to finish classes.
Green’s coaching journey saw stops at high schools in Minatare and Broken Bow, Nebraska, and the University of Northern Colorado and Northwest Missouri State. He became famous on Montana television stations during his tenure as coach for his catchy similes, metaphors, and quips about the team and life. Once the internet and social media proliferated, Green became an internet celebrity.
Join sports enthusiasts and community members interested in promoting sporting events in Great Falls and helping to create economic impact for the community, and attend the Great Falls Sports Foundation Mixer on Wednesday, April 9th.