More Than a Ballgame: Guns N’ Hoses Honors Portage County Veterans
Our July Voices of Impact session brought a little friendly rivalry into the conversation, along with a whole lot of heart. As part of our monthly Voices of Impact Lunch and Learn Series, attendees joined us to hear from Joey Gemza, paramedic supervisor with the Stevens Point Fire Department and team captain, about the Guns N’ Hoses Fund, a fiscal sponsorship fund through the Community Foundation of Central Wisconsin that has spent more than a decade turning a softball rivalry into meaningful support for Portage County veterans.
More Than a Game
On the surface, Guns N’ Hoses looks like exactly what its name promises: firefighters and paramedics facing off against local law enforcement on a softball diamond. But as Joey shared during the session, the real win happens off the field.
Joey said, “We want to give that recognition to the veterans… that at the end of the day is philanthropy, whether you’re giving a dollar or you’re a bigger sponsor who helped get that memorial in place.”
Joey’s connection to the event runs deep. He grew up watching his father serve as assistant chief of EMS at the Stevens Point Fire Department, and joined Guns N’ Hoses the same year he was hired. He is now the team captain, despite, in his own words, never having played baseball or softball before picking up a glove for the cause.
Over a Decade of Support
Guns N’ Hoses got its start in 2014, when a retired police chief and Traci Tauferner, a veteran and advocate, decided the community needed a fun, competitive way to support local veterans. What began as a single softball game has grown into a full day of games, raffles, and community celebration, and since that first year, the tournament has raised $369,000 for veteran causes.
This year’s event takes place August 30, 2026, at Veterans Memorial Park in Plover. The day features three games, firefighters versus firefighters at 10 a.m., law enforcement versus law enforcement at noon, and a 2 p.m. championship pitting fire against law, plus 50/50 raffles, sponsor and community support, food sales, basket raffles, and a gun raffle. The event is free to attend, and this year’s fundraising goal is $20,000.
A Growing Partnership
Guns N’ Hoses became a fund of the Community Foundation of Central Wisconsin in 2022, and Joey was candid about what that partnership has meant for a small, volunteer-run team.
“Partnering with you guys has made it so much easier,” Joey said. “Before, we were just planning one year at a time… you guys have helped create that infrastructure, so we can look at long term goals, long term plans.”
As fiscal agent, the Community Foundation receives all gifts and sponsorships on behalf of Guns N’ Hoses, while the fund’s committee, including Traci and fellow board member Chris, decides where the support is directed. It’s a partnership that has helped a passionate, three-person team focus less on paperwork and more on the mission.
Where the Support Goes
Guns N’ Hoses serves Portage County veterans specifically, and the fund’s support has taken many forms over the years. One of the most visible is the Veterans Memorial Monument at Pfiffner Park, a lasting tribute built with support from the tournament.
The fund has also supported the Never Forgotten Honor Flight, which brings veterans to see the memorials built in their honor in Washington, D.C., and the Spirit of Wisconsin Dream Flight, which flies veterans and, more recently, first responders over Portage County. “It’s important for us to send veterans to see that memorial and to feel recognized in that,” Joey said. “When you put in that years of service for your country… to be able to show them that we respect them, that we care about the service that they gave, it’s really awesome to see how much it affects them.”
Looking Ahead
As the session wrapped up, Joey’s hope for Guns N’ Hoses was simple: keep growing, and keep giving veterans the recognition they deserve.
“We hope that we can get everybody involved,” he said, pointing to the Portage County fire and EMS departments and law enforcement agencies who come together each year to play for a shared cause. “The closer we can be together, the better we all work together, on an actual call. It’s really awesome to see.”
We are grateful to Joey, and to Traci, Chris, and the entire Guns N’ Hoses team, for sharing their story and their decade of dedication to Portage County veterans during this Voices of Impact session. If you missed the session, we invite you to watch the full conversation on our YouTube channel and join us for a future Voices of Impact event as we continue highlighting the people, organizations, and initiatives strengthening Central Wisconsin.
Feeling inspired by Guns N’ Hoses? Support to their tournament and the veterans they serve is tax-deductible through the Community Foundation of Central Wisconsin. Give today here.
Join us August 30 at Veterans Memorial Park in Plover for a free, family-friendly day of softball, raffles, and community. Learn more about Guns N’ Hoses here.
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Please also save the date for our next Voices of Impact Open House, where we’ll be unveiling a new wall celebrating our Organizational Endowments. RSVP here.
This special interactive Voices of Impact on August 10th from 11:00 – 1:00 PM as we bring together nonprofit leaders, community members, and supporters for an engaging open house experience. Meet local nonprofit organizations that have established Organizational Endowment Funds with us, learn about their missions, and explore our new Organizational Endowment Card Wall featuring information about each organization. Connect with nonprofit leaders, discover the impact they are making throughout our community, and celebrate nonprofit excellence in action.
We hope to strengthen awareness of the many organizations creating positive change across our region and the importance of endowment funds in sustaining that work for generations to come.