Our Journey: From a Dream to Reality
Every Great Dream Begins with a First Step.
Rooted in Faith. United by Community. Building a Place to Belong.
Every meaningful journey has a beginning.
For Beyond the Boards Foundation, that beginning wasn't a building, a blueprint, or a fundraising campaign.
It was a family's experience, a love for hockey, and a growing belief that more opportunities should exist for individuals and families throughout North Idaho.
What began as a personal dream has grown into a vision for something much greater: a welcoming, year-round ice sports and community complex where people of all ages, abilities, and financial circumstances can find opportunities to participate, grow, connect, and belong.
We know that turning this vision into reality will take time, determination, resources, and the support of an incredible community.
But we believe every step matters.
And we're grateful to share those steps with you.
Where It All Began
A Family's Journey. A Community's Future.
Our inspiration began with our son Logan's hockey journey.
From the time he first stepped onto the ice at nine years old, hockey became an important part of our family's life.
We experienced the friendships, teamwork, discipline, and unforgettable moments that make youth sports so meaningful.
But we also experienced the challenges.
The cost of equipment and participation. The travel. The sacrifices families make. The limited opportunities for athletes who want to continue playing after high school.
We watched how quickly opportunities could become difficult to reach—not because of a lack of passion or determination, but because of circumstances beyond an athlete's control.
Those experiences stayed with us.
Over time, we began imagining something different.
What if more athletes could pursue their dreams closer to home?
What if families had access to more affordable opportunities?
What if people with disabilities had more opportunities to participate in ice sports?
And what if an ice facility could become something even greater—a place for education, mentorship, friendship, community service, and belonging?
Those questions became the beginning of Beyond the Boards Foundation.
Taking the First Steps
Turning a Vision into a Mission
What began as an idea slowly became a commitment to creating something that could serve others.
We started exploring what it would take to establish a nonprofit organization, develop a long-term facility vision, and bring people together around a shared purpose.
We spent time thinking not only about what the facility might look like, but about the people it could serve.
Children discovering new opportunities.
Families navigating financial challenges.
Athletes seeking pathways for continued development.
Individuals with disabilities looking for accessible recreation.
Veterans and first responders seeking community connections.
And people of every generation who simply need a welcoming place to belong.
The more we explored the possibilities, the clearer our purpose became.
This was never meant to be just about ice. It was about people.
Our Milestones
Building the Foundation, One Step at a Time
Every milestone brings us closer to the future we envision.
Milestone 1 — A Vision Takes Shape
Our family experiences inspired the idea of creating a welcoming ice sports and community destination in North Idaho, with opportunity, accessibility, and belonging at its heart.
Milestone 2 — Beyond the Boards Foundation Is Established
Beyond the Boards Foundation, Inc. was formally established as an Idaho nonprofit corporation, turning our idea into an organized effort with a clear mission and purpose.
Milestone 3 — Our Federal Employer Identification Number Is Obtained
We received our Employer Identification Number (EIN), an important administrative step in establishing the foundation.
Milestone 4 — Building Our Founding Board
We began assembling a founding board of individuals willing to help guide the organization with integrity, accountability, and a heart for serving others.
This important work remains part of our organizational development.
Milestone 5 — Developing Our Mission, Vision & Values
We developed the guiding principles that define who we are and what we hope to accomplish.
Our mission centers on belonging, opportunity, accessibility, character, community, and meaningful connections.
Our vision extends beyond a sports facility to a place that can strengthen families and create lasting opportunities throughout North Idaho.
Milestone 6 — Sharing Our Story with the Community
We began sharing our mission and long-term vision through community outreach, conversations, and the development of our website.
Every connection helps us learn, grow, and introduce more people to the possibilities ahead.
Where We Are Today
Laying the Groundwork for Tomorrow
Beyond the Boards Foundation is currently in its early organizational and planning stages.
We are focusing on strengthening the foundation's leadership and governance, preparing for the federal 501(c)(3) application process, developing our long-term plans, and building relationships with people and organizations throughout North Idaho.
Our proposed facility remains a future vision, and we have not yet established a construction timeline or secured the resources needed to begin development.
We believe it's important to be open about where we are in the process.
We are not presenting a finished project.
We are inviting our community to follow—and potentially help shape—the journey of building one.
Looking Ahead: The Road Before Us
The Next Chapters of Our Story
As we continue moving forward, several important steps remain.
Complete Our Founding Board
Continue building the leadership and organizational structure needed to guide the foundation responsibly.
Pursue Federal Tax-Exempt Recognition
Prepare and submit our application for recognition of 501(c)(3) status with the Internal Revenue Service.
Build Community Relationships
Connect with families, ice sports organizations, businesses, educators, accessibility advocates, veterans' organizations, and other community partners.
Explore Facility Planning & Feasibility
Evaluate potential locations, facility requirements, operational considerations, development costs, and the resources needed to support a sustainable project.
Develop a Long-Term Funding Strategy
Explore responsible fundraising, sponsorship, grant, and partnership opportunities as the organization progresses.
Plan Future Programs & Opportunities
Work toward developing scholarships, adaptive recreation, ice sports programming, educational initiatives, and community activities as resources and partnerships allow.
These are goals rather than guaranteed timelines. Each step will require thoughtful planning, responsible decisions, and the support of others.
Celebrating the Small Victories
When people think about a project like ours, they often imagine the big milestones.
The land purchase.
The groundbreaking ceremony.
The first completed rink.
The first child stepping onto the ice.
And we dream of those moments, too.
But we've also learned that meaningful progress often happens quietly.
A conversation with someone who believes in the mission.
A volunteer willing to lend a hand.
A new connection in the community.
An idea that helps us see a challenge differently.
A difficult question that encourages us to plan more carefully.
Those moments matter.
Because lasting things aren't built in a single day.
They're built through countless acts of faith, perseverance, service, and community.
Follow Our Journey
We want this page to grow alongside the foundation.
As we reach new milestones, develop partnerships, share announcements, and make progress toward our long-term goals, we hope to keep our community informed.
We invite you to check back, follow our updates, and share in the excitement of each new chapter.
And if you'd like to become part of our journey, we'd love to hear from you.
Whether through volunteering, professional expertise, community connections, ideas, or encouragement, there are many ways to make a meaningful difference.
The dream may have started with our family, but its future belongs to the community we hope to serve.
The Best Is Still Ahead
We don't know exactly how long this journey will take or every challenge we'll encounter along the way.
But we know why we started.
We believe in creating opportunities.
We believe in strengthening families.
We believe in serving our community.
And we believe everyone deserves a place to belong.
Our faith reminds us to keep moving forward, even when we cannot see every step ahead.
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” — 2 Corinthians 5:7
Thank you for being part of our story.
With gratitude,
Kim & Shamus Mease
Founders, Beyond the Boards Foundation, Inc.
More Than Ice. A Place to Belong.
