Vancouver: Hockey Helps the Homeless teams up with NHL Alumni to help end homelessness in Vancouver
September 24, 2012
NHL Alumni join forces in Vancouver to reach 2012 fundraising goal of $300,000
September 24, 2012 (Vancouver, BC) - Hockey Helps the Homeless, a volunteer-driven charitable organization, is preparing to hit the ice running with its fourth annual BMO Hockey Helps the Homeless fantasy hockey event, a men and women’s hockey tournament on November 23rd, 2012 at the UBC Thunderbird Arena. Complete with star hockey power from the NHL, this hockey event is targeted to raise $300,000 to help end homelessness in the Vancouver area.
Hockey Helps the Homeless annual fantasy hockey tournaments have seen over 130 NHL alumni and professional players participate since 1996, including in Vancouver Kirk McLean, Cliff Ronning, Greg Adams and Stan Smyl. Men and women will have the opportunity to play alongside their hockey heroes to raise money in support of the homeless in their community. This year hockey fans can look forward to playing with Garth Butcher, Geoff Courtnall, Dave Babych, Larry Melynyk, Cammi Granato and many more.
"Hockey Helps the Homeless puts on a great tournament. It's a wonderful opportunity for hockey fans to enjoy a big league hockey experience while helping those in need in our local Vancouver communities. The organizers do a fantastic job ensuring we all have a lot of fun for the day. I look forward to being a part of it every year" said Garth Butcher, former Vancouver Canuck.
This year’s event will introduce a Fan-fest zone presented by Freedom 55 Financial where friends and families are invited to come out, join in the fun and support a worthy cause. Activities will include interactive hockey games to test your skills, autograph signing, an Easton hockey product test tent and much more.
Hockey Helps the Homeless Vancouver event has raised over $265,000 in support of the homeless since it began its first fantasy hockey tournament in 2009. Proceeds from our 2011 event supported Vancouver outreach partners Covenant House, RainCity Housing, Lookout Emergency Aid Society, First United Church, Urban Native Youth Association and Odd Squad Production.
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 $4.3 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 more than 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 you can register to play in one of our many tournaments.
About Covenant House
Covenant House Vancouver exists for those young people for whom there is often no one else — young people aged 16 - 24 who have fled physical, emotional and/or sexual abuse, those who have been forced from their homes or those who have aged out of foster care. We bandage their cut-up feet from days and nights walking the streets; give them hot food and a warm bed and support them in their choice to change their present circumstances while helping them heal from past traumas. We rely on the generosity of over 50,000 individuals and organizations to provide shelter, food, clothing and counseling to over 1,400 young people each year.
Covenant House provides three core services designed to provide each young person with a continuum of care or "one-stop shop" approach to leaving the streets: Community Support Services which provides outreach and a drop-in program; a 24 hour crisis shelter; Rights of Passage, a 6 – 24 months transitional living program. For more information visitwww.covenanthousebc.org/
About RainCity Housing
RainCity Housing and Support Society is a grassroots organization built around compassion, purpose and a commitment to delivering progressive housing and innovative support solutions for people that are homeless and may be experiencing concurrent poor mental health and addiction.The women and men who benefit from the services of RainCity Housing are treated with dignity and respect, and are offered a safe place to live, a greater sense of purpose and improved quality of life.With a proven track record, a strong leadership team and a clear vision, RainCity Housing is a leader in finding workable, cost-effective solutions that ultimately benefit everyone in our community.
Hockey Helps the Homeless has been an integral part of our support community. Over the years they have assisted with the purchase of several capital items which have been of enormous benefit to us. We are sincerely grateful to be the recipient of their generosity again this year and to be continuing this important partnership. For more information please visit www.raincityhousing.org/
About Lookout Emergency Aid Society
Lookout Emergency Aid Society is a non-profit charitable organization established in 1971. We offer a range of services and housing 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to adult men and women who are destitute and require assistance.
The purpose of Lookout is to provide non-judgmental, non-sectarian services to adults and seniors who cope with a wide variety of challenges including: mental illness, chronic alcoholism, substance abuse, mental/physical handicaps, chronic health problems (including HIV/Aids), legal issues or those simply unable to cope. Through advocacy, referrals and liaison with sister agencies, we help them progress towards meeting their multiple needs. For more information please visit www.lookoutsociety.ca
About First United Church
The First United Church is an inner-city ministry in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES) that supports a vibrant, yet vulnerable community. We value the individual and are committed to empowering our community members. We stand alongside those who suffer and whose voices go unheard. Our commitment to social justice and providing meals, housing, healing and support groups helps thousands of vulnerable or homeless men and women in the DTES. At First United, we are inspirational in celebrating life and proactive in fostering peace and justice. For more information please visit www.firstunited.ca
About UNYA
UNYA is a, youth-driven, prevention-focused organization which has been supporting Native youth in East Vancouver for 23 years. Currently, UNYA works in collaboration with over 225 community partners to offer 21 programs in the broad areas of education and training, personal support, live-in programs, and sports and recreation.
Through this diverse continuum, UNYA provides opportunities for Native youth (primarily 11-24 years) to build upon their strengths and develop/enhance increased self-sufficiency. UNYA also undertakes various research and community development initiatives to strengthen the community’s capacity to respond to immediate and long-term needs of Native youth.
UNYA is also fundraising to create the Native Youth Centre (NYC) at Hastings Street and Commercial Drive. The NYC will be an innovative hub of programs and services which will improve opportunities for youth. The Centre will consolidate and expand upon existing UNYA programs to create an effective continuum of support, educational, training, artistic, cultural, and employment programs that will help youth to create positive change in their lives. For more information please visit www.unya.bc.ca
About Odd Squad Productions Society
Odd Squad Productions Society (OSP) is a non-profit society and registered charitable organization that provides drug education and criminal prevention education for youth. OSP delivers its messages through thought provoking documentaries, educational presentations, and peer to peer mentoring workshops including highly effective and successful Junior Hockey Mentoring Programs. For more information please visit www.oddsquad.com
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