Wings Etc. Toys for Tots Softball Tournament Sells Out Early with Record Number of Teams

Organizers added a field for the November 7-8 event at Byers Softball Complex as the event approaches a $250,000 milestone.

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — A beloved tradition in the Michiana community is flourishing. The 15th annual Wings Etc. Toys for Tots Softball Tournament has sold out early, with 25 men’s teams and a record 28 coed teams competing to raise funds to give the region’s children a magical Christmas.

The men’s tournament will be held on Saturday, November 7, 2026, and the coed competition will be held on Sunday, November 8, at the newly renovated Byers Sports Complex in South Bend, Indiana. Teams were asking to enter as early as August 1.

In 2025, the event raised a record-breaking $36,000 for less fortunate children in the South Bend community. The tournament has exceeded the previous year’s total every year over the past 14 years, raising a total of $219,000 for Toys for Tots. Longtime organizer Mike Curry is hoping to cross the threshold to $250,000 this year.

“We were thrilled to add an extra field this year to accommodate the number of teams that want to participate,” said Curry. “The tournament is fun for everyone involved, and it plays a significant role in making Christmas extra special for so many children. We’re grateful for Wings Etc.’s continued commitment to making this event a success.”

Though the teams are set, there are plenty of ways to get involved. Fans can attend the games, including the Local Heroes Tournament featuring teams from the Marines, local fire and police departments, and the Indiana Department of Corrections. They can take part in the Michiana Chrysler Home Run Derby; signups take place at the event. They can join the waiting list to participate in the Ugly Sweater Christmas Draft Tournament as well. Details are available at www.facebook.com/toysfortots.softball.

Players and fans are also encouraged to bring new, unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots. Collection bins will be available on site throughout the weekend. Since the tournament’s inception, approximately 2,750 toys have been collected. All funds raised and toys collected benefit the Marine Toys for Tots Program.

The tournament also marks the start of the annual Wings Etc. toy drive. In addition to collection bins at the tournament, donation boxes will be available at Wings Etc. restaurants in the Michiana region.

“This is who we are at Wings Etc. — we give back to our community,” said Wings Etc. CEO Rob Hensmann. “We wouldn’t be here without the people who continue to believe in us, and we want to recognize and thank them for their support. It’s an honor to help ensure the children in our community can experience the magic of Christmas morning.”

Funds come from the team entry fee of $200, and most teams contribute more. Tournament jerseys, long-sleeved tees and hoodies are available for purchase as well.

The toy drive concludes each year with an awards ceremony and banquet at the Wings Etc. restaurant at 11480 McKinley Highway in Osceola, Indiana; this year’s event is slated for December 11. During the banquet, Curry hosts a raffle to help fund the following year’s campaign; in 2025, that 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 5. 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

Wings Etc. has sponsored the softball tournament for 14 years and served as the feature sponsor for 13 years. The company’s broader effort to give back includes the Dine to Donate program, a partnership with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the formation in 2023 of The Wings Etc. Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. See wingsetcfoundation.com.

The Marine Corps Reserve 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. Since 1947, Toys for Tots has distributed 732 million toys to 325 million children. See toysfortots.org.

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About Wings Etc.

Founded in 1994 by Jim Weaver in northern Indiana, Wings Etc. is a brand specializing in over-the-top flavor and over-the-top value. The brand includes two concepts: the award-winning, full-service Wings Etc. Grill & Pub with sports programming and a full bar, and the nimble, quick-service restaurant Wings Etc. 2Go. Guests of both restaurants can choose and customize their Big Flavor from more than 20 delicious sauces, rubs and dips. See wingsetc.com.

With more than 80 corporate and franchise locations, Wings Etc. has enjoyed three decades 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. is one of the Top 400 in Franchise Times; it 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.

©2026 Wings Etc., Inc. Franchises independently owned and operated.

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