Toronto: Hockey Helps the Homeless teams up with Toronto Maple Leafs Alumni & CWHL Pros to help end homelessness in the GTA
September 20, 2012
Toronto Maple Leaf Alumni and CWHL Pros join forces to reach 2012 fundraising goal of $350,000
Sept 20, 2012 (Toronto, ON) - Hockey Helps the Homeless, a volunteer-driven charitable organization, is preparing to hit the ice running with its seventeenth annual Hockey Helps the Homeless fantasy tournament, presented by Freedom 55 Financial, the financial security planning division of London Life. The event will take place on November 16th, 2012 at the Magna Center in Newmarket. This men’s and women’s hockey tournament will be complete with star hockey power from the NHL and CWHL and is targeted to raise $350,000 to help the homeless in the GTA.
Hockey Helps the Homeless annual fantasy hockey tournaments have seen over 150 hockey pros participate across Canada since 1996, including, Kris King, Mike Gartner, Mark Osborne, Theo Fleury, Vincent Damphousse, Gillian Apps, Molly Engstrom and Caroline Ouellette. The tournament will play host to 10 men’s and 8 women’s teams and will offer participants the opportunity to play alongside their hockey heroes while raising money in support of the homeless in their community.
"The annual Hockey Helps the Homeless tournament is a great opportunity to play some hockey, contribute to a wonderful cause and have a big league experience. The organizers and volunteers do a wonderful job. We all have a lot of fun while helping those in need in our local communities. I look forward to playing in the tournament every year,” said Kris King, former Toronto Maple Leaf and Sr Vice President Hockey Operations, NHL Central Office.
This year’s event will also include a pre-tournament game featuring Toronto Maple Leaf Alumni who will take on some of the best female hockey players in the world from the CWHL. This exciting all star game will take place on November 15th at 7:30 pm at the Magna Center. For the first time ever there will also be a Fan-fest zone presented by Benson Kearley IFG, which kicks off at 4pm on November 15th and includes a Hockey Hall of Fame exhibit, interactive hockey games to test your skills, an Easton Hockey product test tent, Toronto Maple Leafs Mobile Fan Zone and much more. Friends and families are invited to come out, join in on the fun and support a worthy cause.
Proceeds from the 2012 event will support 5 local outreach partners: Salvation Army Gateway, Pathways of York Region, Belinda’s Place, Light Patrol and Inn from the Cold.
Together we can help make a difference in the lives of homeless men, women and youth struggling across our region. Don’t get stuck on the bench - please visit our website at www.hockeyhelpsthehomeless.comto get involved and help end homelessness in your community.
About Hockey Helps the Homeless:
Hockey helps the Homeless is a volunteer-driven charity organization that was established in 1996 when a group of Toronto businessmen decided to turn an annual industry hockey tournament into a charitable event aimed at helping the homeless. Since our inception Hockey Helps the Homeless has expanded its scope and impact right across Canada raising in excess of $3.5 million while driving awareness and support for Canada’s homeless. Through the significant leverage provided by our players, sponsors and supporters in the community as well as the knowledge and expertise of our outreach partners, we intend to facilitate frontline and reintegration projects, while helping foster the corporate and political will to put an end to homelessness in our lifetime. The face of homelessness and its associated social challenges are changing every day. Thirty years ago over 90% of the people on the street were adult men. Today, it is estimated that there are more than 200,000 homeless people in Canada with children and young families making up the fastest growing segment of the population.
If you would like to learn more about the homeless situation in your community and across Canada, you can contact one of the homeless outreach organizations identified on our website (www.hockeyhelpsthehomeless.com ) or register to play in one of our many tournaments.
About Freedom 55 Financial, the financial security planning division of London Life
Founded in London, Ontario, in 1874, London Life offers financial security advice and planning through its more than 3,150-member Freedom 55 Financial™ division. Freedom 55 Financial offers London Life's own brand of savings and investments, retirement income, life insurance and mortgage products. Together, London Life, Great-West Life and Canada Life serve the financial security needs of more than 12 million people across Canada.
Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life are building Stronger Communities Together™ with Hockey Helps the Homeless and many more progressive Canadian charities. As an Imagine Caring Company, we contribute a minimum of 1% of average pre-tax profits to non-profit, charitable and community organizations each year.
About Salvation Army Gateway
The Salvation Army Gateway is a shelter and drop-in center for adults in the downtown core of Toronto. They provide everything from the very basic needs of food shelter and clothing, to a comprehensive case management program that works alongside folks on the street on their journey out of the shelter system towards becoming contributing members of the community. For more information, please visit www.thegateway.ca
About Pathways of York Region Pathways for Children, Youth and Families of York Region has been a leader in the delivery of innovative support services for over 20 years as we work to improve the lives of homeless and at-risk youth and families in York Region. At Pathways, we provide a unique continuum of care approach with a range of programs and services that are essential to the health and well-being of clients and that are proven strategies for helping to keep youth off the streets by providing safe housing options. For more information, please visit www.pathwaysyorkregion.com
About Belinda’s Place
Belinda's Place will offer hope to women without a home andlife-changing services that promote stability, dignity and self-reliance. Working together, we will be able to give countlesswomen in our community the chance to rebuild their lives and start anew. For more information, please visit www.belindasplace.ca
About Inn from the Cold, York Region
Inn from the Cold, York Region is a multi-facetted charitableorganization that is dedicated to assisting the homeless and at riskindividuals by offering shelter, training and opportunities toreintegrate as contributing members of society. For more information, please visit www.innfromthecold.ca
About Light Patrol
Light Patrol is an outreach program of Youth Unlimited (Toronto YFC) that responds to the needs of Toronto’s homeless and street-involved youth. Since 2001, Light Patrol has been assisting and guiding these vulnerable young people, helping them transition away from the destructive elements of Toronto’s street life. For more information, please visit www.lightpatrol.ca
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