Cornhole for a Cause

Making an Impact with Valuable Networks While Giving Back

It all started as a friendly cornhole competition between two firms. A connection over the companies’ internal cornhole tournaments made two friends and industry contacts realize it could be something more. That’s how Bohler New Jersey’s annual Cornhole for a Cause fundraiser tournament came into being.

Over the last seven years, Bohler has brought together professionals from across New Jersey’s architecture, engineering, and construction industry each year for a charity cornhole tournament. It’s a fun time with great food and drinks, but it’s much more than that. People often leave having made a connection that they can work with in the future. On top of that, the event has raised a total of more than $280,000 for various local charities since its inception.

Building networks that create value for our clients is a key value for Bohler.

Back in 2015, Dave Wisotsky, Director of Operations at Bohler, and Chris Johnson, now CEO of Enterprise Construction and Development – neighbors and industry contacts who previously worked together – talked about how both Bohler and Chris’ firm at the time held cornhole tournaments for staff. “It became a competition moment – like, ‘Our firm could beat your firm,’ just joking,” Dave recalled.

But it quickly became real. Chris added, “We should really do that. Let’s pick a night and do a tournament between the two firms, for bonding and fun.” Then, other pieces of the event began to come together. They decided to use the event to raise money for charity, and they leveraged their connections to bring vendors together: “We knew a band who could play, I knew a caterer, and I knew about Tranquility Farms – the venue – because our local Youth Football League had used it,” Chris shared. They turned to Brianna (Bri) Edwards, then Bohler’s Business Development Assistant, to make it happen. She coordinated with the different vendors and charities to make sure it all went off without a hitch.

Heather Diemer, Amanda Carluccio, and Brianna Edwards

The first tournament in 2015 was a great success. Over 100 people attended, and it and raised $30,000. “A lot of people appreciated that this is different,” Dave said. “It’s so refreshing to go to a business event that’s unique and fun. It makes for a great evening.”

From there, it only grew. The team sought to expand it each year, evaluating how they could make it bigger, to get more sponsors and raise more for charity. Over the years since, they’ve added things like raffles, auctions, and a “longest throw” competition that expanded fundraising efforts. After the first couple years, Bri, now Sr. Proposal Manager, took over all aspects of planning the event and has been instrumental in its growth and success. According to Dave, “She’s really the nerve center of this. Bri is the engine that puts this in motion every year.”

Cornhole for a Cause has supported a different charity nearly every year, extending our impact to a wide variety of causes in the area. Tasked with picking the charity each year, Bri explained, “We usually pick a charity aligned with a cause that has impacted our staff or their families in some way. It’s always really meaningful to be able to give back like this.”

With the 2023 Cornhole for a Cause event quickly approaching, the team is hoping to increase their collective impact this year. The goal is to raise over $100,000 for The Hoving Home, an organization dedicated to helping women suffering from addiction rebuild their lives, and Team Legrand, which supports quality of life initiatives for those living with spinal cord injuries. These organizations hold personal significance for some of Chris’ contacts.

It’s always really meaningful to be able to give back like this.”

But it’s not just about the money. “Building networks that create value for our clients is a key value for Bohler,” Dave said. “This cornhole tournament allows us to bring together our vast network, which often creates opportunities for our clients and partners. People know that they’ll meet someone worthwhile at this event.”

The Cornhole for a Cause fundraiser tournament proves that a simple idea and a game of cornhole can make a powerful impact with collaboration and community. When we come together to support charitable causes, we not only raise much-needed funds, but we also build important networks that strengthen our industry as a whole. This is where Bohler’s strengths and values converge.