Looking for some good news from this past hockey season? While the Carolina Hurricanes were less than successful on the ice, their affiliated charitable organization had another stellar year.
The Kids 'N Community Foundation announced today that they awarded over $582,000 in cash grants to local charities during the 2013-14 season. That brings the total of donations made by the Foundation to over $12 million since the team moved to North Carolina in 1997.
As much as we sometimes criticize players, coaches, management and ownership, credit should be given where credit is due and most everyone affiliated with the Hurricanes goes above the call of duty when it comes to charitable work.
Cam Ward and Eric Staal sponsored their "Cam's Champs" and "Eric's Entourage" suites for children of various needs.
When Aaron Ward was with the Canes, he helped to sponsor the "Ward's Warriors" suite, which gave free tickets and transportation to various veteran groups, so they could enjoy a game.
This is a great job done by fans, corporate sponsors, players, and everyone else associated with the team. For more information about the Foundation check out the following link, Kids 'N Community Foundation.
In related news, non profit organizations can also earn funds by running concession booths at the arena during the team's games. Your group (that qualifies) could earn 10% or more on your sales every night. For more information about this, see the next link, PNC Arena - fundraising.
Congratulations to all who participated.
(team's press release below)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 2, 2014
KIDS ‘N COMMUNITY FOUNDATON DONATES $582,000
Grants awarded to 32 local organizations
RALEIGH, NC – Doug Warf, Vice President of Marketing for the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes and Executive Director of the Carolina Hurricanes Kids ‘N Community Foundation, today announced that the Kids ‘N Community Foundation has completed its 2013-14 year of funding and has donated a total of $582,000 in cash grants to 32 different children’s charitable organizations in the Triangle and North Carolina. This grant cycle brings the Foundation and team’s donation totals to more than $12 million in cash and in-kind services since 1997. The Foundation’s level of giving, coupled with ticket and in-kind donations, ranked the Carolina Hurricanes seventh on the Triangle Business Journal’s list of largest corporate philanthropists.
GOAL (Growing Opportunities and Leaders) Grants were introduced by the Kids N’ Community Foundation in 2012, and are distributed in $50,000 increments to six selected organizations. Triangle Family Services, Marbles Kids Museum, InterAct of Wake County, YMCA of the Triangle, Boys & Girls Clubs of Wake County and the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina each received their incremental funding in 2013-14, accounting for $300,000 of the total donated by the Foundation.
The Foundation issued 15 Game Changer Grants during their spring grant cycle, totaling $150,000. The Game Changer Grant recipients are: CORRAL Riding Academy, Genesis Home, HopeLine, Junior League of Raleigh and Museum of Life and Science at the $5,000 level; Comfort Zone Camp, Kramden Institute, Me Fine Foundation, Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill and Urban Ministries of Wake County at the $10,000 level; Camp Kesem, Frankie Lemmon School, Junior Achievement of Eastern North Carolina, Make-A-Wish Eastern North Carolina and North Carolina Theatre at the $15,000 level.
Future Canes Grants, awarded to 11 youth hockey organizations, totaled $132,000. Future Canes Grants are provided to grow the sport of hockey throughout North Carolina, and the funds go towards scholarships and program costs to ensure that children who suffer financial restraints or disabilities are able to play ice hockey. Future Canes Grant recipients are: Cape Fear Youth Hockey Association, Carolina Lightning, Coastal Carolina Youth Hockey Association, Defending the Blue Line, Eastern Carolina Youth Hockey Association, Greensboro Youth Hockey Association, North Carolina Electric Wheelchair Hockey Association, Raleigh Youth Hockey Association, Triangle Special Hockey Association, Triangle Youth Hockey Association and Winston-Salem Youth Hockey Association.
The Carolina Hurricanes Kids ‘N Community Foundation provides much needed funding to children’s charities and education programs throughout North Carolina. The Foundation has funded scholarship programs, youth hockey, educational and literacy efforts, children’s health programs, the arts and other children’s related initiatives. Annually, the Foundation provides cash and in-kind contributions of more than $1 million to charitable and educational programs in North Carolina. Every member of the Hurricanes organization is actively involved in community activities and the Hurricanes take great pride in the ability to have a positive impact in our state.
Please visit www.CarolinaHurricanes.com/