OUR STORY:
Our journey as a nonprofit has just begun. We were formed in July of 2025 by a group of former lacrosse players, coaches, administrators and business people. Since then, we have built a website (virtual Hall of Fame and history museum), funded our new program builder grants, kicked off the first ever Ref Appreciation & Recruiting Week – to grow the pool of refs and thank them. We have two upcoming events: the Hotdish Sixes fundraising tourney – to fund our efforts and unite older players and alumni to have some fun for a great cause, plus our annual Awards Ceremony & Gala is set for Sunday, Sept 27 at te Rush Creek Golf Course banquet hall in Maple Grove..
What sets us apart is, we are different than your average Hall of Fame. We don’t just give out awards at a banquet and golf outing. We proactively try to make the spost better, by removing financial barriers so more kids can participate with our New Youth Program Builder grants and impact the growth and development of lacrosse with our coach and referee training grants. We no longer have a MN Chapter of USA Lacrosse, so there is a huge void when it comes to funding these things!
Our Impact So Far…We are giving our first $1,000 new youth program builder grant to Wilmer, MN. We inducted our first class of 14 Hall of Fame award winners on Sunday Nov 2nd 2025. We hope to recruit 20 new rookie officials and Umpire with our Referee Appreciation & Recruiting Week and of course you can’t quantify the many thanks (show of appreciation) that the coaches and players showered the refs during the week of April 11-18. Our post season, Coaches, Umpire’s & Official’s Choice Award voting in July encourages the rewarding of sportsmanship, kindness, excellence and character. FUNDRAISING...We hope to raise $4,500 at our Hotdish Fundraiser Sixes Tournament on Sat, Aug 15 @ Hopkins HS. to pay help pay for the Award Ceremony up front coats and raise $8,000 at the Awards Ceremony Gala to cover the cost of running the Hall of Fame and all our initiatives and grants.
NEW EVENTS BEING PLANED…In addition to the existing events mentioned, we are planning a Upper Midwest Coaches & Refs Convention – with multiple partners, to provide low-cost training workshops to share and improve knowledge of the game and a Sticks For Kids Equipment Drive – with local lacrosse retailers, to provide free used equipment to new youth programs. We are working with partners like Homegrown Lacrosse, USA Lacrosse and the National Lacrosse League Unboxed program to provides additional equipment grants, lesson plans and staff to run intro clinic training for new players, coaches and refs,
We hope you are just as passionate about lacrosse and we are and can see it in your heart to support our efforts with your donations, volunteer time or event advertising and sponsorship. Together we can have a great impact on lacrosse in Minnesota and some good!. Please visit our Donor, Volunteer and Sponsorship & Advertising Opportunities pages for more details.
Please make others aware of our programs. Let us know if you would like to partner with us or receive an impact report.
Mark “Old Coach” Hellenack – President
Email | mnlaxhalloffame@gmail.com
Phone | 952-457-4515
Web | www.mnlacrossehof.org
BIG IMPACT NEWS – We are proud to announce our first $1,000 New Youth Program Builder Grant will be going to a mom,Nikki Bettcher Erickson, in Wilmer who is building a youth program for her 14 yr old son. We are partnering with Homegrown Lacrosse, who is providing a Trylax Clinic and guidance with the administrative process. This is the first of what we hope will be many new youth new programs we can impact here in Minnesota. YOUR GENEROUS DONATIONS MADE THIS POSSIBLE!!!!
Testimonial
ABOUT THE WEBSITE: It’s great to see the content, the enthusiasm and respect shown for those who helped build Minnesota Lacrosse into what it has become! Lots of names from the “way back” that make me smile.
Board of Directors
Mark Hellenack
Jon Harris
Jon Harris
Gregory Kraut
Ian Flam
Tyler Keenan
Alan Childs
Mike Livingston
Kathryn Kinppemberg
Kevin Reed
OUR EVENTS:
Click on the event images below for more details
Sixes fundraising Tournament
Screenshot
Thank & Recruit Our Referees
Screenshot
Award Ceremony Gala
terry watson
Senior Executive
george dean
Project Manager
monica pulley
Project Designer
WE GROW THE GAME
We Recruit & Thank Refs, provide grants forCoach & Ref training, Collect Used Equipment for New programs, and provide New Youth Program Builder GrantsWE HONOR THE GAME
We are a source of Minnesota lacrosse culture, history, news and information with our Hall of Fame website. We run a Hotdish fundraising tournament to connect old teammates and foster a sense of community and charitable giving. We nominate, select and recognize our hall of fame award winners and run an annual Awards Ceremony to honor their achievements.
We are supported by the Jake Anderson “Give 60 for 60” Foundation, who’s four core principles align we ours. To award kindness, sportsmanship, leadership, and character
MISSION:
To honor the achievements of our state’s most talented players, coaches, referees, administrators and growers of the game at our annual Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony & Gala. We also impact the growth and development of the game with our new program builder grants, Coach & Ref Training grants and and programs like our Ref Appreciation & Recruiting week. We are focussed on both honoring and growing lacrosse in Minnesota.
VISION..
Engauge the lacrosse community and make it aware of the rich Native history, culture and roots of the sport and recognize those who have played, coached, officiated/umpired at a high level, administrated or grown the game. We also strive to bring the community together with our events like the Hotdish fundraising Tourney, Awady Ceremony Gala. Plus provide grants to grow the sport with youth program builder grants and grants to train more coaches and referees.
VALUES..
* Recognition * Partnership * Integrity * Character * Honor * Sportsmanship * Access * Culture * Community * Development * Philanthropy * Youth Access * Equity * Inclusion * Diversity * Transparency * Leadership * Shared Responsibility * History *
ISSUES WE ADDRESS
We are the keepers of the past and modern history of lacrosse in Minnesota. Our board member and resident lacrosse historian, J. Alan Childs is an expert on the history of the game. His book “Minnesota Lacrosse, A History” is a great read for lax history buffs.
Growing the Game…
GRANTS…We offer a youth program builder grant to jump start new youth programs with equipment and training for coaches, as well as Intro clinics for new players in underserved outstate and inner city communities. We partner with local nonprofit Homegrown Lacrosse, the National Lacrosse League – UnBoxed Equipment Program and USA Lacrosse – New Start Equipment Program
COACHES TRAINING CLINICS…We strive to provide $100-200 0r more grants to bring talented coaches to the state of Minnesota through partners with the PLL, USA Lacrosse, and the National Lacrosse League, as well as local partners, to enhance the level of coaching skills.
REF TRAINING, RECRUITING, & EVALUATING…We strive to provide $100 – $200 or more grants to Traint, recruit or evaluate officials/umpires because you can’t play the game without the third team on the field. The goal is 20 rookie officials and 20 umpires.
STICKS FOR KIDS 2027…To address the need for equipment for low income kids and n programs, we are running a “Sticks For Kids” Equipment drive with retail partner ES Lacrosse this spring and hope to roll it out in an even bigger way next year.
Used equipment (goals, helmets, gloves, shoulder, and elbow pads, and goals will be donated to those starting a new youth program or as part of our participation grant
How You Can Help Us Achieve Our Goals
NOMINATE SOMEONE FOR THE AWARDS WE OFFER: Visit our Nomination Forms page and nominate yourself or someone else for any of our four awards. It’s easy to do, just fill out the online form, include a lacrosse resume and download it. The outline for the resume is listed along with the criteria for eligibility.Nominating & Voting Process..You can nominate yourself or someone else. The online Nomination Forms and criteria for all four awards are available on our Nomination page. The deadline for all nominations is Aug 4th, 2026.Each summer. the selection committee members of the MN Lacrosse Hall of Fame pick the top 20 candidates from all the nominations submitted online by the Minnesota lacrosse community. The male and female player, coach, referee and other award nominees are rank voting by the selection committee and o determine who is inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Click the buttons below to be directed to the full description of each award.
The Unsung Hero award is meant for those who have impacted the growth or development of the sport in Minnesota. The Janet Holdsworth Unsung Hero Award is given a deserving female. While the Howard Rogers Unsung Hero award is given to a deserving male.
Both Janet and Howard were instrumental in championing the move from girls and boy’s club lacrosse to varsity status in Minnesota in early 2007-2010.
Allan Safranek, the 2025 Art Ayers Award winner (Started the St Cloud area lacrosse movement.
The Art Ayers “Grow the Game in Outstate MN Award” is for those who have been instrumental in starting a new lacrosse program in Outstate Minnesota.
John Alexander Hunter was the 2025 Dr dan Ninham Indigenous Lacrosse award recipient because of his tireless promoting of the traditional wood stick game in the Native community.
The Dr. Dan Ninham “Indigenous Lacrosse Award” is for an outstanding native player, stickmaker and those who have promoted the traditional wood stick game in the Midwest. We like to call it the Heisman and Tewaaraton Trophy of the Midwest.
The Choice Awards offer a unique twist and show of mutual respect. Coaches vote for the Umpire and Official of the Year, while the umpires and officials vote for the men’s and women’s coach of the year.
Men’s Coaches Choice Award for the Lacrosse Official of the Year
Officials Choice Award for the Men’s Lacrosse Coach of the Year
Women’s Coaches Choice Award for the Lacrosse Umpire of the Year.
Umpires Choice Award for the Women’s Lacrosse Coach of the Year.
OUR 2025 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES…
Rpb Graff – Caoch
Rich Limpert – Coach
harold Buck – Official & Admin
Howard Roders – Unsung Hero
Janet Holdswort – Unsung Hero
Chris Larson – Official & Admin
Laura Mark – Coach
Aron lipkin – Coach & Admin
Judy Baxter – Coach
Ryan Hurley – Player
Julie Carlson – Umpire & Admin
Lydia Sutton
Player
This poem is from our Tell Us Your Lacrosse Story section on our website’s “News & Contacts List ” page.
This Will Inspire You To Share The Game
Coach Frankey Jackson shared this poem from his Lightning Stick Lacrosse Club dated January 21, 2015
I share with you a poem by a very talented young lady from the Pine Ridge reservation….she is a multi sport high school athlete with awesome lacrosse skills…..
My hands were perfectly molded to my first lacrosse stick. I developed a bond with an inanimate object and an ancient game. I love this sport. I am in love with what it has lead me to be, the people I have met, but what I love most of all ‒ sharing it.
In the sanctuary of the grass field, I feel invincible. My body is able to move freely without any worldly burden. The tranquility is shared with everyone on the field, and the calmness shows no prejudice. I am spiritually connected with every individual soul that is within these boundaries.
Lacrosse has offered me a new lens to see an ancient, forgotten world that is only visible to those who open their hearts to new culture, and divine experiences. Through lacrosse, I have connected with Indigenous people from every corner of the Great Plains, and shared a transcendent experience with each and every one.
Lacrosse is seen as a “Medicine Game”, played to heal the spirit. But it also has the power to bring people together and gives them something to be connected with by their Deities. I have been adopted into a family spread all across the land of North America, and I feel at home as long as I know I can be healed by players who share the same love for the game.
Experiencing this powerful prayer, in the form of lacrosse, has influenced me to bring it to others. My eyes see sadness and destruction every day, and no solace in the games we have for youth today. I believe if I share this sanctuary of sacred entertainment, it can change lives- just as it has mine.
By: Gusti Wynds Terkilsdn – Oglala Lakota Lacrosse Player
Here’s your call to action
Be a table Sponsor at our Awards Ceremony for $300
It’s a great value and inexpensive way to advertiser your business
Make a Donation of any amount
Recurring monthly or yearly donation options are also available.
CLICK THE BUTTON BELOW!
If love the game,
share the joy of lacrosse with others.
Give what you can and advocate for putting more sticks in kids hands and train, recruit more coaches and referees!
Here’s what we do and what it costs
2026 Projected Budget…
$4,000 New Youth Program Builder grants, Coach and Referee Training
$1,400 website, admin & operations
$8,000 events & programs – Award Ceremony Gala, Hotdish Fundraiser Tournament, Ref Appreciation events & programs.
Total Funding Needs for 2026 are $13,400
Here is where you funding goes…
2026 Funding Goal… $1,000 per grant x 2 grants = $2,000
This grants is for building new youth programs. There are several parts to it, including
1. Sending a local qualified instructor to run the Intro to Lacrosse clinics(s). This includes all the necessary equipment (Sticks. soft lacrosse balls, goals, player/parents recruiting fliers in addition to finding an indoor or outdoor facility and arranging low of no costas and scheduling.It is prefered to us a local elem or middle school and work with the Phys Ed dept or after school with Community Ed or Parks & Rec. Teaching lacrosse in PE classes is the most affective way to start a new program. It can reach most , if not all, students and take 1-2 days.
2. Training & Mentoring potential coaches and team administrators. This includes online training provided by USA Lacrosse and a list of nearby teams and leagues to join. We also, try to connect new coaches and admins with the local existing one who can show them the ropes and share their knowledge.
3.Equipment Grants are provided in 2 ways, USA Lacrosse has a new helmet and stick grant for boys and a stick grant for girls. Our Grow the Game grant supplements what USA Lacrosse provides for things like lacrosse goals, extra intro clinics and mentoring. In the future we hope to provide used equipment through our “Sticks For Kids Equipment Drives.
2026 Funding Goal..$8,000 for the awards, awards banquet facility, food and beverage deposit, printed program, photographer, videographer, marketing & advertising, inductee & a guest dinners, raffle tickets, eNOTE: We are adding about 16 high school All-Americans and their coach; that’s 34 guests. The University of St. Thomas 2007 National Championship team will also be our guests. That’s a reason for needing $8,000 to make this award ceremony fantastic..
2026 Funding Goal…$600 for Annual Officials & Umpires Appreciation & Recruiting Week
This event will involve rallying the lacrosse community at all levels to show appreciation for officials and umpires on the week we select, Giving them praise after the game, maybe a gift card or pat on the back and “job well done’, goes along way.
We want to also use the week to focus on recruiting the next generation of youth officials from our high school and college players, parents and fans. So, we plan to set-up recruiting blitz via email and social media advertising the need and offering free training. We have teo sponsors to help pay for the award palques and dinners for the Choice Awards,
Old Southern BBQ and the Jake Anderson Foundation Give 60 for 60 Foundation.
Hotdish fundraising Tournament (new Sixes format) for older male and female age levels in the fall .
2026 Projected Funding Goal…$4,000 for the Hotdish Sixes Fall Tournament for male & female age levels: Juniors 18-35 and Legends 35 & Older. We are still figuring out where to hold this one day event which will most likely be a Sunday in late August or early September. We hope to have the team fee, location and other logistics figured out very soon. What to expect: Short field size (half field) and two 12 minute halves per game, 4-5 games. use of Sixes rules, small rosters of 8-12 players. lots of fun and an after party at a local watering hole with a hotdish contest and plenty of hotdish on the menu. an engraved glass casserole hotdishes will he awarded to the winning teams in each division. We are in the process of working with Homegrown as a tournament admin. admin and co-partner. HOF board members Jon Harris and Mike Livingston are running the tournament Jon can be reached at Jon@apexperformance.one and Mike at Livy036@gmail.com
Hall of Fame Sticks For Kids Equipment Drive
We will be starting a “Sticks for Kids” Used Equipment Drive Program. We collect, recycle and store used equipment (helmets, gloves, sticks, pads, balls and goals) and donate them to new programs in need. We are working out details with local lacrosse retailers on timing and logistics. We hope to roll out the program near the end of 2026.
The only expense might be purchasing pales to put out at the retail locations to collect the gear and the cost of refurbishing equipment and transporting it.
The Upper Midwest Men’s and Women’s Youth and HS Coach & Referee Convention…
Our projected Coach & Referee Convention is in the planning stages right now and we hope to use the local talent of our state’s best and brightest coaches and referees to share their knowledge with our boys and girls youth and HS coaches in a convention like setting somewhere in the Twin Cities. This event will unite the entire lacrosse community,bring together national and local vendors and all the talent that we have to share. Local stakeholders will include co partner Homegrown Lacrosse, retailers, businesses, hotels colleges, HS, youth and referee associations and travel teams.
OUR PARTNERS:
For more details on how to donate or volunteer please visit our “Donate to the Minnesota Lacrosse Hall of Fame” page on this website or contact board president Mark Hellenack at MNlaxhalloffame@gmail.com / 952-457-4515
OUR SUPPORTERS:
To discuss all your sponsor or advertise options, please contact board president Mark Hellenack at MNlaxhalloffame@gmail.com / 952-457-4515. Help Us Grow your business and the sport of lacrosse! You can be an ad sponsor on this website anad in our award ceremony program for as little as $60 – $100
