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From a major sponsorship
of amateur hockey to putting
major smiles on patients’ faces, the Minnesota Wild is keeping
the puck in perspective.
While most hockey fans are readily
aware of the Minnesota Wild’s amazing success on the ice, what they
may not be acutely aware of is what the Wild is involved with off the
ice. And the list is impressive. Community service and philanthropy have
become trademarks of this young franchise, which is good not only for
the game, but also for the entire community.
“Our approach to community involvement has been a collaborative effort
both internally and externally,” said vice president of marketing
Matt Majka. “Between our skilled folks here on staff along with so
many supportive, willing and cooperative people throughout the hockey
community, it has all come together into something for which we are very
proud.”
Growing Grassroots
One of the most significant investments that the
Wild has made is with Minnesota Hockey, the governing body of amateur
hockey in the state. The Wild has made large contributions to Minnesota
Hockey, both monetarily as well as in the form of providing office space
for Minnesota Hockey’s executive administrator, the only full-time,
paid employee on the Minnesota Hockey staff. This is a relationship that
the Wild is very proud of and, considering they are the sole team in the
National Hockey League with such an intimate relationship with grassroots
hockey, a vision that deserves a lot of credit.
“The view here, from ownership and
throughout the organization, has always been that the support of amateur
hockey, and Minnesota Hockey specifically, is a fundamental objective
of being a meaningful part of this hockey community,” said Majka.
The sponsorship of Minnesota Hockey includes the Play Our Game Equipment
Program whereby individuals and hockey associations from across the state
can apply for equipment grants to help encourage new participation in
their local programs. During the past two seasons, more than $40,000 in
equipment has been awarded to more than two
dozen associations.
Another initiative making a difference with
youth hockey associations is the sale of game programs and Wild home games.
At each game, a youth hockey team from around the state is selected to
come to the arena and sell programs as a fund-raiser for their hockey
association. A portion of the proceeds from the sales go back home with
the kids, a portion goes to the 10,000 Rinks Foundation and some to Minnesota
Hockey, which ultimately distributes the money back to local districts.
After doing the math, it’s not difficult to realize that the Minnesota
Wild keeps not one cent of the proceeds.
“I think this program says that we care about kids,” said Heather
McGinty, executive director of the 10,000 Rinks Foundation. “It also
says we care about hockey and it says we’re asking you, the fans,
to give back to your community – all great things.”
Land of 10,000 Lakes . . . And Rinks
The 10,000 Rinks Foundation is a nonprofit foundation that is perhaps
the cornerstone of the Wild’s community service repertoire.
“The 10,000 Rink Foundation’s purpose is to grow the sport of
hockey and also to reach kids by teaching them life lessons through the
game,” said McGinty.
“Our motto says it best: ‘Through positive leadership, inspiration
and education, the foundation works to teach children life lessons so
they may become better teammates, both on and off the ice.’ It is
a real privilege to be a part of this, and I know it is only going to
get bigger and better in the years to come.”
The foundation has also fostered a very significant relationship with
the Children’s Hospitals and Clinics and, over the past two years,
has raised more than $100,000 for the charity.
“One of the things I am most proud of is the Wild Team Room at the
St. Paul clinic,” said McGinty. “This is just a really fun place
kids can go to when they are being treated at the hospital. The room is
filled with Wild memorabilia, computers, games, a big screen TV, a stereo
system and just fun stuff for kids to take their minds off their treatments
for a while. Our players and staff visit kids in the room regularly and
that has been really cool to see as well.”
The Wild has also donated
funds to support other areas within the hospital system as well, including
the Cranial-Facial Surgery Department, Cancer Research Center and soon
the Pediatric Diabetes Center. In addition, they give to the Child Life
Program, which has child life specialists create play opportunities for
kids. They also invite many of the kids to games to help try and make
their experience at the hospital as enjoyable as possible.
“I have just been very fortunate
to have been able to work for people who really believe in the betterment
of the community,” said McGinty. “There are some real needs
out there, and it has been great to be a part of an organization that
has the means and resources to address some of them and make a difference.”
Community Players
Another key member of the Wild’s team is community
relations director Marlene Wall, who works directly with the players to
get them involved in the community.
One such program enables
Wild players to purchase a luxury suite and donate it to their favorite
charitable group. Marion Gaborik recently donated his suite to a group
of needy children in conjunction with the St. Joseph’s Home for Children.
The kids who attended the game very much enjoyed the play as well as the
personal appearance after the game by Gaborik, who stopped by to sign
autographs. Nick Schultz, meanwhile, whose father had a bout with cancer,
wanted to treat the kids with cancer at Children’s Hospital to a
night at the game, which brought more smiles to the faces of deserving
kids.
“I give all the credit to the players,” said Wall. “So
many of them are so good at going to the hospitals and spending time with
kids, which is great to see. More and more of them are coming to me and
wanting to set up a charity program to give back their time and energy.
It is rewarding beyond words and it makes you realize just how much these
players mean to so many people. We are really making a difference here,
and I am proud to just be a part of it.”
Random Acts of Kindness
The entire community of Hutchinson was devastated
after a house fire tragically took the lives of three young boys in October
2001, two of which played on the town’s Squirt A hockey team. Adam
Robinson, 10, was a defenseman. Andrew Colemer, 10, was the goaltender.
They were at the home of Aaron Pulkrabek celebrating his 11th birthday,
just a short while after Pulkrabek had made the decision to get involved
in hockey. The three boys went to bed that fall evening and never woke
up. One can only imagine how hard it must have been for the Hutchinson
community and the teammates on the Hutchinson Squirt A hockey team.
“Imagine nine,
and ten, year-old kids losing three of their friends at one time,”
said Hutchinson coach Scott Cripps, whose son played hockey with the three
boys. “It was strange; you know how feelings are when you start the
hockey season, everything is cool, the kids are getting new gear, new
jerseys, etc. Well we had three wakes and three funerals to go to inside
of a four-day period to start the year last season.”
Upon learning of this horrific tragedy, the Wild invited the entire team
to the Xcel Energy Center to watch a game from a luxury suite. In addition
to providing as many tickets as were needed for family and treats for
the kids, the team arranged for Wild players Andy Sutton and Mike Crowley
to visit with the kids and parents in the suite. It was something the
kids will never forget.
“The way they embraced
us was a great gesture, they could not have done more for us,” said
Cripps, who attended the game and is still in awe of the compassion and
generosity the organization showed towards his team of squirts who he
never imagined were on the radar screen of an NHL organization.
“The Wild did everything
they could for us and never asked for anything in return. They simply
said ‘let us help’ and asked what they could do for the kids.
They wanted to give these kids something special. And they did everything
possible to offer these kids something good to think about rather than
what they had been through.”
Greg Anzelc contributed to this story.
For information about any of the programs mentioned in this article,
visit wild.com or minnesotahockey.org.
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