Christnovich on WIZM talking Holmen squirrel association’s biggest fundraiser for helping challenged get outdoors

Whether it’s skiing, fishing or hunting, a local nonprofit out of Holmen has been working hard at allowing those who are physically or otherwise challenged take part in outdoor activities that most of us take for granted.

NASA, which stands for the North American Squirrel Association, based out of Holmen, has its biggest fundraiser of the year on Saturday at the La Crosse Center, with a big goal for 2024.

NASA board of directors member Tony Christnovich joined WIZM’s La Crosse Talk on Tuesday to discuss what they’ve been up to.

“This past year, some of the things we’ve done, we rebuilt the fishing pier at Mosey’s Landing on Lake Onalaska,” Christnovich said. “We put up a new fishing pier on Duck Pond in Trempealeau.

“And, this year, our big project, is we’re going to be putting up an all-inclusive playground at Remington (Hills) Park in Holmen, which is about a $350,000 to $400,000 project.”

Christnovich also talked about how this group got started, with the simple idea of helping others.

“There are a lot of people out there that are physically challenged or cognitively challenged or elderly that would still like to enjoy the outdoors, but just don’t have any means to do it,” he said. “So, let’s start a group that’s going to help those people do these things, all for free.”

Doors for Saturday’s banquet open at 4 p.m. at the La Crosse Center. For more info go here or call Christnovich at (608) 385-3080.

A seemingly endless amount of giveaways and auctions will be up for grabs, including an African safari hunt, a Lake Michigan fishing trip, a guided trout fishing trip and multiple raflles.

“We’ve got more raffles than you can shake a stick at,” Christnovich said.