Duluth Curling Event Raises $470K to End Child Hunger

A weekend curling tournament in Duluth just turned into a life-changing moment for kids facing hunger, thanks to one family's incredible generosity.

The House of Hearts Charity Bonspiel brought 32 curling teams from around the world to the Duluth Curling Club this past weekend. While Joe Polo's team took home the trophy, everyone was playing for something much bigger: raising money for Project Joy, a nonprofit dedicated to ending childhood hunger.

Project Joy carries a powerful legacy. The organization is named after Patrick Plys, a Duluth curling Hall of Famer who passed away after battling brain cancer. Even during his toughest days, Patrick's motto was simple: "I choose joy."

His son Chris, a national and world junior curling champion, served as one of the celebrity skips at the event. "The legacy he's left in this, he'd be very proud," Chris said. "This is very special to us."

By Saturday evening, the tournament had raised nearly $170,000 with help from sponsors like Minnesota Power Foundation, The Suites Hotel, and Green Mill. That number alone would have made the weekend a success.

Then came the surprise that left everyone speechless.

Jess and Jill Brozic stood up to announce a $300,000 donation from the Leonardo Contardo Foundation. The timing couldn't have been more perfect. Jess is the great-nephew of Leonardo Contardo, and both he and Jill are longtime curlers at the club. The connection runs even deeper: Jess's mother, Jean, is one of Project Joy's founding members, and his late father was a dedicated curler too.

The Ripple Effect

That single donation more than doubled the fundraising total to $470,000. For Project Joy, this means thousands more meals for children who might otherwise go hungry. The money will help the nonprofit expand its reach across the community, turning Patrick Plys's message of choosing joy into tangible hope for families struggling to put food on the table.

The event shows how sports can bring people together for causes that matter. Curlers traveled from around the world not just to compete, but to be part of something meaningful. Local businesses stepped up as sponsors, understanding that ending childhood hunger takes a community effort.

For the Brozic family, the donation honors both Leonardo Contardo's legacy and their deep roots in the Duluth curling community while supporting Jean's work with Project Joy.

The curling stones may be back in storage until next year, but the impact of this weekend will feed children for months to come.