Checkers players, staff members and Chubby made a significant impact in the Charlotte community in February, making school appearances and raising thousands of dollars for local non-profit organizations. Major events in February included Pink in the Rink, Dancing with the Stars of Charlotte and Hearing Loss Awareness Night.
Pink in the Rink
A season-high crowd of 12,948 was on hand for the seventh annual Presbyterian Hospital Pink in the Rink on Feb. 9, and more than $50,000 was donated to local women’s cancer charities Go Jen Go, Carolina Breast Friends, Cindy’s Hope Chest and the Presbyterian Hospital Buddy Kemp Cancer Support Center. The players and officials wore pink jerseys and Checkers owner Michael Kahn surprised Go Jen Go founder Jen Pagani with a check for $25,000 for her foundation.
Hearing Loss Awareness
Checkers fan and season ticket holder Luke Brenes was the guest of honor at the Checkers’ Hearing Loss Awareness game on Sunday, Feb. 10. Luke and the Checkers participated in a fundraising campaign which raised $4,815 for Beginnings of North Carolina, a non-profit resource for families with deaf or hard-of-hearing children. The money was raised via ticket sales, donations and a skills and drills clinic at Extreme Ice Center, where 42 youth hockey players learned hockey skills from Checkers players and former NHL forward Jason Dawe.
Dancing with the Stars of Charlotte
Checkers COO Tera Black was one of seven area executives to compete in the Dancing with the Stars of Charlotte competition on Saturday, Feb. 23, at Knight Theater in Uptown Charlotte. Black, along with her dance partner Addul, danced the Tango and raised more than $46,000 for the North Carolina Dance Theatre and the Charlotte Checkers Charitable Foundation.
School Visits
Checkers players and staffer Elle made several visits to local schools as part of the PowerPLAY program, which encourages healthy and active living among elementary school children, and the Science of Hockey program. Checkers players Riley Nash, Sean Dolan, Rasmus Rissanen, Bobby Raymond, David Rutherford and Justin Krueger participated and made several appearances.
On Feb. 19, Checkers forwards Zac Dalpe and Justin Shugg visited Walter G. Byers as part of Wells Fargo’s Reading First program. The players read to students and took part in a question and answer session.
Project HALO
On Feb. 12, a group of Checkers staffers along with players John Muse, Riley Nash, Justin Soryal and Sean Dolan volunteered their time at Project HALO, a local no-kill animal shelter and the beneficiary of this year’s Pooch Party. The volunteers cleaned and helped maintain the grounds and visited with the animals.
This Community update is brought to you by Goodrich Corporation, who is a proud sponsor of all Checkers community initiatives. Goodrich Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, is a global supplier of systems and services to the aerospace, defense and homeland security markets. With 2007 revenues of $6.4 billion, Goodrich is headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., and employs more than 24,000 people worldwide in approximately 90 facilities across 16 countries.
On Feb. 12, a group of Checkers staffers along with players John Muse, Riley Nash, Justin Soryal and Sean Dolan volunteered their time at Project HALO, a local no-kill animal shelter and the beneficiary of this year’s Pooch Party. The volunteers cleaned and helped maintain the grounds and visited with the animals.
This Community update is brought to you by Goodrich Corporation, who is a proud sponsor of all Checkers community initiatives. Goodrich Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, is a global supplier of systems and services to the aerospace, defense and homeland security markets. With 2007 revenues of $6.4 billion, Goodrich is headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., and employs more than 24,000 people worldwide in approximately 90 facilities across 16 countries.
