Star Journal report

The Hodag Schools Foundation (HSF) has announced a $50,000 donation from Ripco Credit Union. The donation comes in the form of a multi-year pledge designated for improvements to the Hodag multi-purpose/sports complex.

“The Ripco Board of Directors and I truly see this as a game changer for our community,” notes Liza Edinger, president and CEO of Rhinelander’s Ripco Credit Union. “The attraction this complex will have for not only those in our community, but also visitors from outside of our area will result in positive outcomes, bringing an encouraging economic benefit to our area. Moreover, we wanted to provide support to the largest commitment our school district has made since 1958. The time, attention, and resources already provided by numerous individuals and companies have been truly impressive and heartwarming to see.”

The dome portion of the complex is expected to be up by September.

Ripco has been involved in the Rhinelander community since 1932 when it opened a credit union to serve the employees of the Rhinelander Industrial Paper Company. It now serves more than 12,000 members in seven area counties. Ripco has also operated a student branch at Rhinelander High School for more than 10 years.

HSF is a volunteer-run non-profit organization that provides financial support for programs and facilities benefiting students in the School District of Rhinelander and the community. Organization president David Heck said he expects two more donations to be announced before the fundraising is complete.