Port High Football Player Participates in All-Star Game to Benefit Children's Hospital

After a and being accepted to play football at Macalester College in the fall, Port Washington senior Zach Hauser now has the opportunity to play in one of the most meaningful games he’ll ever play in.

Hauser was selected to participate in the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association All-Star Charity Football Game benefitting Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin on July 14 at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

"Because almost everyone has dealt with Children’s Hospital in one way or another, it hits home for a lot of people," Hauser said. "And to see people raising money to help the cause is anamazing thing."

Hauser is one of those people for whom this truly hits home. He was born two weeks early, severely jaundiced and at blood transfusion levels. Hauser was placed in an incubator at Children’s Hospital, hooked up to IV’s just five days after arriving on this planet.

Knowing a transfusion was risky and convinced her son would get better, Hauser’s mother, Tania Switon, wouldn’t allow one.

"He’ll bring himself out of this; just give him one more day," Switon told doctors, repeating this for five days until eventually Hauser was at normal levels and was cleared to go home.

Now, nearly 18 years later, Hauser gets to give back to the foundation that very well could be the reason he is here today.

Tello’s lends a helping hand

Each participant in the charity game is asked to raise at least $500 for Children’s Hospital, and  in Port Washington has volunteered to sponsor Hauser and host an event on April 25 to help him raise as much money as possible.

A portion of all proceeds from sales at the restaurant on April 25 will be donated to Children’s Hospital to help Hauser try to surpass his quota.

"It’s just a great business and I’m so thankful that they’re helping me," said Hauser. "I got to know Joe Lopez and Angel Tello after eating there with my dad, and they’re great guys."

Angel Tello, the owner of Tello’s, expressed his happiness to offer any help to Hauser and his fundraising for Children’s Hospital.

"When I found out about the game and was asked to sponsor Zach, I said absolutely," Tello said. "The main reason we want to do this is because I believe in him and I believe in the future of the students. Anything that Tello’s can do, even if it is just helping a little bit with something like this, we take great pride in it and we are very proud to help the community."

According to Tello, the restaurant also works to support the fight against breast cancer and helps with Special Olympics foundations as well. This year, Tello’s is also providing a scholarship program for Port Washington High School as well.

"They’re just so generous with the community," said Switon. "The people at Tello’s are great and they make it clear that they work to help."

Next stop, college

After sifting through 51 letters from schools that wanted Hauser to apply —including a preliminary letter from Harvad, Stanford and Carnegie Melon — he only applied to one school, and will be playing football at and attending Macalester College in St. Paul this fall.

With a student body of just under 2,000 and nationally ranked academics, Hauser knew in his heart that Macalester was where he wanted to attend.

"It just felt right," Hauser said. "When I visited the campus, it just felt like a family. Close knit, smaller, kind of like what I’ve been growing up in. I went there in October of my junior year to go see a football game at Mall of America Field. Academics are great and it was just a perfect fit.”

In the end, it was Hauser’s decision — but it was still important that Mom was on board as well.

"It all came down to him," said Switon. "I didn’t care where he went, it was his decision and he had to feel comfortable. And, of course, when we looked over all of the academics we knew it was the place for him. That was the priority."

How to help

If you’d like to help Hauser and Children’s Hospital, you can find all donation information and a short biography on Hauser here. Other information regarding the game or Children’s Hospital can be found on the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin webpage. The deadline for raising all money is May 4.