|
|
| d October 31, 2008 KROENKE SPORTS CHARITIES AND TEAMMATES FOR KIDS AWARDS $10,000 GRANT TO COLORADO GOLDEN EAGLES SPECIAL HOCKEY TEAM
DENVER - Kroenke Sports Charities, in partnership with the Garth Brooks Teammates for Kids Foundation, will award $40,000 in grants to three Colorado non-profit organizations which provide recreation and program services for disabled athletes at Pepsi Center tonight before the Avalanche game against Columbus.
The Colorado Avalanche organization and its coaches and players have been partners with the Teammates for Kids Foundation since 2001.
"The Teammates for Kids Foundation provides a unique way for our players to support non-profit organizations in Colorado and throughout the world," said Deb Dowling-Canino, Vice President of Community Relations and Fan Development for Kroenke Sports Enterprises. "We've been very proud to be the only professional team, in any sport, to have 100% participation of our players, coaches and management for two consecutive years in this unique fundraising program which allows our teams' shots, assists, power play goals, penalty minutes, points, and even goalie saves and wins to count for children around the world."
The grant recipients include:
Colorado Special Hockey (CSH) - A youth hockey program for children and young adults, male and female, with Down Syndrome, Autism, ADD/HD or developmental disabilities that prevent the athlete from participating in other organized programs. CSH integrates gentle teaching with appropriate training and support methods and exercise and movement therapy in a fun hockey environment that enhances physical, mental, behavioral and social skills.
-KSE-
Thank You to everyone who helped with the 2008 Silent Auction! We made over $7200.00!!!
Ian Laperriere Visit
TEAM SPIRIT
Ian Laperriere appeared at the Avs' practice facility in Englewood with a team called Colorado Special Hockey, a team made up of developmentally disabled children and adults.
While not all of the players were aware Laperriere was a professional athlete, he treated them all the same, skating hard with the older ones, taking it slow and easy with the others.
A few times kids got distracted or discouraged and lay on the ice, which quickly got the attention of Laperriere, who raced over, offered encouragement and got them skating again. He also took time to talk with kids who weren't skating and spent about 45 minutes signing autographs and posing for photos with the more than 40 players and their families, his chatter and wide smile making everyone feel comfortable.
"You just get here and it doesn't take too much to get going," Laperriere said. "Especially this time of the year, with Christmas around the corner and it's holiday time, you're in the spirit to make a difference in a kid's life and we get to do that." 
Ian Laperriere with Goalie Sara Stephenson | |
|