SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that more than $3 million was raised over the course of the 2009-10 season by the AHL and its 29 member clubs for donation to various charitable causes and relief funds across North America.
Among the recipients of the AHL’s charity endeavors this season were:
• Ace Bailey Children’s Foundation
• American and Canadian Cancer Societies
• American and Canadian Red Cross
• Autism Speaks
• Big Brothers Big Sisters
• Boys & Girls Clubs
• Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
• Easter Seals
• Habitat for Humanity
• Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
• Make-A-Wish Foundation
• March of Dimes
• Multiple Sclerosis Society
• Ronald McDonald House Charities
• Salvation Army
• Special Olympics
• Susan G. Komen For the Cure
• Toys for Tots
• United Way
• YMCA/YWCA
and many more…
In addition to monies raised, AHL teams gave back to their local communities through numerous activities, including more than 1,500 visits by players and coaches to schools, hospitals, libraries and other locations and more than 2,500 more mascot appearances. More than 125,000 game tickets were donated to local charitable groups, and items such as food, coats, Christmas gifts and hockey equipment were collected at various drives organized by AHL clubs. Additionally, charities in all AHL cities were the beneficiaries of a generous donation of game tickets by Reebok-CCM, the Premier Equipment Supplier of the AHL.
Since 2001-02, the American Hockey League and its teams have raised more than $21 million for charities through their community relations efforts.
In operation since 1936, the AHL continues to serve as the top development league for all 30 National Hockey League teams. More than 85 percent of today’s NHL players are American Hockey League graduates, and the 2009-10 season marks the ninth consecutive year in which more than 6 million fans have attended AHL games across North America.
