By Kevin Scott and Patty Rearden
GREAT FALLS, Mont., February, 26, 2026 — The Great Falls Sports Foundation has breaking news to share with the Great Falls Community. The annual Mixer will feature Speaker Bill Himmelberg, Head Coach of the University of Providence’s Women’s Basketball Team and Owner-Operator of the Great Falls and Havre McDonalds.
The primary goal of the Great Falls Sports Foundation is to assist in bringing major sports events to Great Falls and the surrounding area, providing significant economic impact to the City, and to offer support to other potential events looking at our community as a destination. The total contributions from the Foundation equal over $475,000. The Foundation’s fundraising efforts include the annual Great Falls Sports Foundation Mixer which provides the majority of funds for the Foundation.
Great Falls Sports Foundation is partnering with Great Falls Community Ice Foundation for the second year for the Foundation Mixer this upcoming April. The Ice Foundation will assist with raising funds and providing silent auction items in order to provide financial benefits for the Great Falls Ice Complex. The complex is used for figure skating, youth and adult hockey, public skating and other skating activities, events, and programs. It is also the home facility for the Great Falls Americans Hockey Team and the University of Providence Hockey Program as well as the host venue for large youth hockey tournaments, adult league hockey tournaments and figure skating competitions, all bringing economic impact to Great Falls. You can help by attending the Great Falls Sports Foundation Mixer:
Great Falls Sports Foundation Mixer, Wednesday, April 8, 5:30 p.m., Exhibition Hall at Montana ExpoPark:
- Guest Speaker: Bill Himmelberg, Head Coach of University of Providence’s Women’s Basketball Team and Owner-Operator of McDonald’s in Great Falls and Havre.
- Complimentary Food, donated by local restaurants in support of the Foundation
- No-host Beverages
- 50/50 Drawings
- Silent Auction
- Music
- Games and Prizes
Photo Credit: Kevin Scott
The Mixer is a fun social event and a great way to say thank you to employees or business associates, friends or family members. The cost of the Mixer is $25.00 per ticket or a book of 10 tickets for $200. The ticket books are available for purchase now at Montana ExpoPark, 400 3rd St. N.W. or by contacting a representative from Great Falls Community Ice Foundation or Great Falls Sports Foundation.
“The Foundation is excited to concentrate their efforts with the Great Falls Community Ice Foundation to make a significant economic impact for the Great Falls community,” said Sports Foundation Chairman Roger Lesofski, “and we know attendees will enjoy speaker Bill Himmelberg along with the other Mixer highlights.”
A fixture at both the University of Providence and in the Great Falls community for decades, Himmelberg has enjoyed unprecedented success as the leader of the women’s basketball team at the University of Providence. Under Himmelberg’s leadership, the Lady Argos have a school record 277 wins and have broken more than 29 different school records during his time at the University.
Coach Himmelberg has coached six NAIA All-Americans, two NAIA National All-Tournament Team selections, 30 All-Conference players, three Frontier Conference Freshman of the Year, two sixth man of the year, three Frontier Conference Defensive Players of the year, and one Frontier Conference player of the year.
One of Himmelberg’s many achievements include the 2022-23 season when seniors Reed Hazard and Brooklynn Harn led the Argos to be the first team in NAIA history to be selected to represent the United States as TEAM USA in the FISU games in Merida Mexico.
Himmelberg has been the owner-operator of McDonald’s of Great Falls since 1988, and is also the Owner-Operator of the Havre McDonald’s. His vast experience includes 30 years of business and reinvestment planning.
Click here to view Bill Himmelberg’s bio.
To purchase tickets, please contact Ryan Smith, Great Falls Community Ice Foundation President, at 406-799-2583 or Roger Lesofski, the Great Falls Sports Foundation President at 406-788-4661. Tickets will also be available to buy at the door on the night of the event.
For more information about the Mixer or to get involved with the Foundation, please contact Great Falls Chairman Roger Lesofski at rogerles@icloud.com or 406-788-4661. We are always looking for new members to join our board.