by Alex Kyrias || AHL On The Beat Archive
This season, the Iowa Chops and goaltender David LeNeveu have teamed up with Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines for a program that truly goes to a good cause.
The program is called David LeNeveu’s Saves For Kids, a fundraiser that raises money for every save he makes this season, whether it be a home or away game.
Fans will be encouraged to donate money to the organization, and cheer on LeNeveu as he raises money for Blank Children’s Hospital with each save.
“My parents were big contributors in their community, so I decided this year that I would start a program myself,” said LeNeveu. “It’s just nice to get awareness out and do something for a good cause.”
As a part of the program, fans and businesses can match the donations for any amount they want, starting at five cents per save. Fans can donate at any of the remaining Iowa Chops home games. During the final regular season home game on Apr. 11, all the money will be pooled and collected and LeNeveu and the Iowa Chops will present Blank Children’s Hospital a check for the final amount.
LeNeveu signed a one-year agreement with the Anaheim Ducks this past summer, having spent the last five seasons in the Phoenix Coyotes organization. LeNeveu appeared in 21 career NHL contests with the Coyotes, and recorded his first NHL win on Oct. 25, 2005, in a 5-4 overtime victory vs. St. Louis.
LeNeveu was an AHL All-Star as a rookie in 2004, and made a name for himself between the pipes when he was a standout goaltender in the NCAA for the Cornell Big Red. As a freshman in 2002, he made the ECAC All-Rookie Team and a year later as a sophomore, he made the ECAC First All-Star Team, was the ECAC Goaltender and Player of the Year, and a Hobey Baker Award finalist.
The Iowa Chops and LeNeveu will take the program one step further on Mar. 21 as the Chops host the Quad City Flames. It will be a night when not only LeNeveu’s saves, but also proceeds from Pitch-A-Pig sales and T-shirts made especially for the event will go to Blank Children’s Hospital as well.
“It is all for something I believe strongly in and makes you realize that we are impacting lives,” LeNeveu summed up. “There are things bigger than hockey that we can make ourselves a part of.”
