Bushwood’s has earned a reputation as a place to stop for sports-oriented entertainment and food. Now, it also has earned a reputation for giving back to the community.
The sports bar and golf simulator recently organized a fundraiser for Shop With a Hero, giving 10% of its gross profits to the local charity, said Bushwood’s co-owner Ted Liszewski.
Bushwood’s was able to donate $100 to Shop With a Hero, a local nonprofit ran by the Poplar Bluff Police Department which gives needy children approximately $100 to shop for Christmas, and the chance to shop with a member of PBPD.
“It’s absolutely fantastic to know that we have community support,” said PBPD Chief Mike McClain. “Bushwood’s has already held one event in support of Shop with a Hero and is wanting to schedule another. We would like to thank them for their support as well as all of the businesses and individuals who regularly support this worthy cause to help children in our community.”
Liszewski said helping Shop With a Hero “kind of happened organically.”
“My wife and I sponsor a family or two every year for Christmas and we do so anonymously,” Liszewski said. “I had spoken to Chief McClain about it and asked him if he’d be interested in doing something like that. He was (and) we were able to give them a small donation. My hope is we can get a larger event together to get more people in to help with that program.”
Liszewski is honored to give back to the community.
“I’ve been pretty blessed in my life,” Liszewski said. “I came from very humble beginnings, like a lot of people in Missouri. I’ve lived at Poplar Bluff for about 12 years. So the chance to give back to some kids and families that need something (is satisfying).”
When Liszewski isn’t helping run Bushwood’s, he is a defense attorney. But being on a different side in the legal arena doesn’t make him any less excited to give back to the community.
“It’s one of those things where even though you might be on different sides of the courtroom, it doesn’t mean that people can’t be civil and come together for a greater good,” Liszewski said. “I would love to set up something in the future to where we’re able to do that multiple times a month, maybe a couple of times a month up until Christmas.”