SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that nearly $3 million was raised over the course of the 2010-11 season by the AHL and its 30 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 Heart Association
• American and Canadian Red Cross
• Big Brothers Big Sisters
• Boys & Girls Clubs
• Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
• Easter Seals
• Habitat for Humanity
• Make-A-Wish Foundation
• Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
• Ronald McDonald House Charities
• Salvation Army
• Special Olympics
• Susan G. Komen For the Cure
• Toys for Tots
• United Way
• UNICEF
• Wounded Warriors Project
• YMCA/YWCA
and many more…
In addition to monies raised, AHL teams gave back to their local communities through numerous activities, including more than 1,900 visits by players and coaches to schools, hospitals, libraries and other locations and more than 3,000 more mascot appearances. More than 135,000 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 $24 million for charities through their community relations efforts.
In operation since 1936, the American Hockey League continues to serve as the top development league for all 30 National Hockey League teams. More than 87 percent of today’s NHL players are AHL graduates, and the 2010-11 season marked the 10th consecutive year in which more than 6 million fans attended AHL games across North America.
