Bases loaded for 14th annual Wings Etc. Toys for Tots Softball Tournament

The charity event, scheduled for November 1­–2, is a home run in the community.

FORT WAYNE, Ind.— Christmas cheer is on deck as organizers finalize plans for the 14th Annual Wings Etc. Toys for Tots Softball Tournament.

The men’s tournament will be held on Saturday, November 1, 2025, and the coed competition will be held on Sunday, November 2, at CCAC Sports Complex in Warsaw, Indiana. In 2024, the event raised a record-breaking $32,000 for less fortunate children in the South Bend community. Over the past 13 years, the tournament has raised a total of $183,000 for Toys for Tots.

Wings Etc. is proud to have served as the event’s primary sponsor for 12 years. Founder Jim Weaver has been committed to community giving since opening the first Wings Etc. in Mishawaka in 1994.

“Every child should have a chance to experience the magic of Christmas,” Weaver said. “We feel grateful to be able to play a part in making that possible.”

The tournament’s longtime organizer, Mike Curry, has expanded the event to include the Michiana Chrysler Home Run Derby and the Ugly Sweater Christmas Draft Tournament. The Armed Forces Battle for the Tots has also grown; now called the Local Heroes Tournament, it features teams from the Marines, local fire and police departments, and the Indiana Department of Corrections. Teams travel from four states to participate in the weekend of events.

“Mike is an incredible guy,” Weaver said. “He goes above and beyond every year to knock this event out of the park. We can’t thank him enough for what he does for the community.”

The team entry fee is $200, though most teams contribute more. Tournament jerseys, long-sleeved tees and hoodies will be available for purchase, with proceeds—along with registration fees—benefiting the Marine Toys for Tots program.

Players and fans are also encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots. Collection bins will be available all weekend long. Since the tournament’s inception, more than 2,600 toys have been collected.

The tournament marks the start of the annual Wings Etc. toy drive. In addition to collections at the tournament, donation boxes will be available at Wings Etc. restaurants in the Michiana region. Last year, more than 300 toys were collected through the combined effort.

“Wings Etc. is, at its heart, a local business,” said Wings Etc. CEO Rob Hensmann. “The people of this community gave us our start, and they’ve been with us every step of the way. This tournament is about more than just the games—it’s about neighbors lifting up neighbors and making sure children experience the joy of Christmas. We’re proud to be part of it.”

The toy drive will conclude with an awards ceremony and banquet at the Wings Etc. restaurant at 11480 McKinley Highway in Osceola, Indiana. During that event, Curry will host a raffle to help fund the following year’s campaign; in 2024, the raffle raised an additional $850.

Curry will present a giant check to the Marine Corps Reserves during the WNDU Toys for Tots collection drive, currently slated for December 6. The Marines then shop for the remaining toys needed with those funds.

All participants in the Wings Etc. Toys for Tots Softball Tournament receive a $5 Wing Nut Bucks coupon. Prizes include:

• First place: $175 Wings Etc. gift card, a champion’s mug, and a team trophy
• Second place: $100 Wings Etc. gift card and a team trophy
• Third place: $75 Wings Etc. gift card and a team trophy
• Fourth place: $50 Wings Etc. gift card and a team trophy

Tournament registration closes when the field reaches 23 men’s teams and 23 coed teams. Teams can register by sending a direct message to facebook.com/toysfortots.softball or by calling/texting organizer Mike Curry at 574-315-5082.

Wings Etc.’s broader effort to give back includes a partnership with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the formation in 2023 of The Wings Etc. Foundation. The Wings Etc. Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization administered by leaders in the Wings Etc. Grill & Pub franchise organization and its affiliated companies, with the mission of “improving children’s lives.” See wingsetcfoundation.com.

The Marine Toys for Tots Program collects new, unwrapped toys and distributes them to less fortunate children at Christmas. The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation was created at the behest of the Marine Corps in 1991. To date, it has distributed 708 million toys to 314 million children. See toysfortots.org.

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About Wings Etc. Grill & Pub

 Founded in 1994 by Jim Weaver in northern Indiana, Wings Etc. is a family-friendly grill and pub featuring award-winning jumbo Buffalo wings, 22 signature sauces and rubs, dozens of TVs tuned to sports programming and a casual, non-corporate-y, laid-back vibe that makes people want to just come in and hang out. See wingsetc.com.

With 82 corporate and franchise locations, Wings Etc. has enjoyed more than 30 years of successful franchise growth. Wings Etc. has been listed among Entrepreneur magazine’s “Top 500 Franchises” and was included in the magazine’s “Top Chicken Franchises” in 2024. It has been named one of Franchise Business Review’s “Top Food Franchises” and a “Top 200 Franchise.” Wings Etc. has been included in Franchise Gator’s “Top 100 Franchises” and its “Fastest Growing Franchises”; it was among the “Top Emerging Franchises” in 2023. Wings Etc. has also been awarded “Best Wings” in multiple markets. See www.wingsetcfranchise.com.

The Wings Etc. Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, is dedicated to improving children’s lives. Learn more at wingsetcfoundation.com.

©2025 Wings Etc., Inc. Franchises independently owned and operated.