The Anaheim Ducks Foundation 10 years of serving the SoCal
It has been ten years since the Anaheim Ducks Foundation was established at the beginning of the 2008-09 season. Since its inception, The foundation has been a big proponent of bringing opportunistic change to children and families throughout Southern California.
The Anaheim Ducks are a franchise dedicated to the sport of hockey, that much is true. However, it is often easy to forget that the Ducks are more than just an organization focused around men with sticks in their hands and skates on their feet. Of course, players and fans alike, all have a like-minded goal that involves a puck going into the net. Nevertheless, the Anaheim Ducks are more than just a group of skilled athletes looking to win a hockey game.
Every night, the Anaheim Ducks give everything they have out on the ice. They push themselves to physical limits that most of us could not even fathom. Yet, they willingly sacrifice blood, sweat, and tears for their team. After all is said and done, they still find the strength within themselves to give back to their community.
Their efforts go far beyond raising money that opens up opportunities for other organizations. They put their time, effort, and energy into making sure their community is taken care of.
The love the organization shows to their community is evidence of deeply rooted compassion. Their dedication to change makes them more relatable on a personal level. They become more than stereotypical surface level athletes who only care about how many zero’s are at the end of their paycheck.
The Mission of the Anaheim Ducks Foundation
I must first commend the NHL for the exemplary standards they hold their players to. As much as I love hockey, it is refreshing to know that the Anaheim Ducks are more than just an athletic organization. As I stated in a previous article, five reasons to stay positive, they aren’t so wrapped up in themselves that they let the area around them suffer.
There is something wonderful to be said about a team who bands together to change the course of the future. As Ducks Nation, we should be proud of the work our team has done to bring positive change to SoCal. Of course, you can’t have a charitable foundation without the need to raise money. The Ducks have made charitable giving about more than having a financial incentive.
Many players are involved in their own individual charities. Ryan Getzlaf and his wife, Paige, host the Getzlaf Golf Shootout charity event to raise funds for CureDuchenne; an organization focused on finding a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Andrew Cogliano has also headed up “Cogs for Dogs” to raise awareness about the needs of shelter animals. However, as extremely important as these other charities are, the Anaheim Ducks Foundation has led the charge in being the Ducks most affluential charitable organization for the last ten years.
The Anaheim Ducks Foundation is not just an organization the Ducks slapped their brand on to get an attaboy for being philanthropic. It was founded on the principles of addressing the needs of the community, especially in regards to educational opportunities. The incredible impact they have had throughout the SoCal area won them a nomination as an ESPN Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year finalist for the 2017-18 season.
“The mission of the Anaheim Ducks Foundation is to facilitate and support programs that produce positive change for children and families throughout Southern California by providing educational opportunities, broadening access to the sport of hockey and addressing the health and wellness needs of our community.” – Anaheim Ducks Foundation, Mission Statment
Ryan Getzlaf at “Dux in Tux.”
Putting the “Fun” in Fundraising
Whether they are striking a pose on the runway, serving up delectable cuisine, or swinging a nine iron out on the links, the Anaheim Ducks are always on the front lines of fundraising. Jersey’s or other autographed memorabilia from theme nights such as NHL Green Month, Hockey Fights Cancer, and Pride Night are auctioned off to raise money for the foundation.
There are also many fun in-game fundraisers for the fans. Some of the most notable are the Lady Ducks Ornament Auction and Sale, Anaheim Ducks Surprise Puck Sets, CHOC Night, Playoff Auctions, and the 50/50 raffle.
The Anaheim Ducks Golf Classic is a fundraiser presented by Honda at the Coto de Caza Golf & Racquet Club in October. Each foursome that commits to donating to the Anaheim Ducks Foundation is given the incentive of drafting an Anaheim Ducks celebrity to their team. In an all-day golf tournament, the teams compete out on the links to win the coveted orange crested blazer.
The annual Dux in Tux event has been around for almost 20 years and has been taken over by the Anaheim Ducks Foundation. This event serves to educate its attendee’s on all of the work that is being done by the foundation.
An exquisite dining experience is provided by several of the top local chefs who willingly donate their time and resources to the cause. Each chef prepares a creative menu for their assigned table with an Anaheim Duck player serving as their “sous chef.”
Partnering with Orangewood and CHOC
“Go Orange for Orangewood” is the moniker used for the Anaheim Ducks Center Ice Party. At an event where it is required that you wear orange, an opportunity is presented to meet the players, coaches, and staff of the Anaheim Ducks.
All the proceeds raised by the Anaheim Ducks Foundation are designated to the Orangewood Foundation. Founded by Susan Samueli in 1999, this event helps to support college scholarships and peer mentoring programs associated with the Orangewood Foundation in order to help former foster care youth.
The Lady Ducks Fashion Show has earned the reputation of being one of the most anticipated events of the season. Over the past eleven years, this fundraising event has been responsible for raising well over $1.4M to benefit CHOC (Children’s Hospital of Orange County). During the luncheon, there are several auctions to participate in.
The event ends with the Ducks players, their wives, and the CHOC child ambassadors joining each other on the runway to show off the latest fashions and trends from Bloomingdale’s. All of the proceeds from the most recent, 11th annual, Lady Ducks Fashion Show went to benefit the CHOC KidCARE program which in turn helped to support the expansion of the hospital’s mental health programs.
The Anaheim Ducks S.C.O.R.E.
The S.C.O.R.E. program was developed by the Anaheim Ducks Hockey Club in 2005. S.C.O.R.E. is an acronym that stands for Scholastic Curriculum of Education and Recreation.
The program was founded with the intention of encouraging youth to pursue academic excellence, healthy living, and promote character building through the sport of hockey. With funding provided by the Anaheim Ducks Foundation, this program has impacted over 50,000 students.
The support shown by the Anaheim Ducks Foundation makes this program free to anyone who wants to participate. Through S.C.O.R.E., students have access to Ducks STEM, a program that was designed to make children excited about science, technology, engineering, and math. The STEM program was also created to help students learn real-life skills through education in the four subject areas.
Aside from the educational opportunities provided through STEM, S.C.O.R.E. focuses on education in two other major areas. The first is in-class education and the second is physical education.
In-Class Education
There are three initiatives in the In-Class Education Program. The In-Class School Supply Program was put in place to help fourth-grade teachers. Free school supplies are provided for a classroom as an extra incentive to motivate students. This program often goes hand in hand with Reading Is The Goal.
Reading Is The Goal is a 30-day extra-curricular program designed to help students develop better reading skills as well as a deeper love for reading. Students can earn prizes for themselves or their school depending on how many minutes they log during the 30-day period.
The First Flight Field Trip is a free event hosted at the Honda Center. Each year there is a new and exciting educational theme taught by the Anaheim Ducks. Over 16,000 students and teachers come together during this event to further educate themselves using the game of hockey. Last year’s theme “Turn The Energy Up” taught students about energy. They learned about things such as stored potential energy in the food the player eat and how kinetic energy is used in a slap shot.
Physical Education
The Captain’s Challenge encourages children to channel their inner captain. In this month-long program, children are taught lessons in integrity, perseverance, bravery, and leadership. Students will have the opportunity to become classroom captain, wearing a “C” similar to the Anaheim Ducks captain.
As captain, they lead their classmates in exercises throughout the day. Not only is this program designed to get them prepared for their California Physical Fitness Test, it was intended to empower and motivate children to become leaders in physical fitness.
13 Training Camp, like the Captain’s Challenge, is a program aimed at fifth-grade students. Students are trained in the art of hockey, giving them a deeper appreciation for physical education. They are also taught valuable life lessons such as sportsmanship, unity, fairness, respect, and perseverance. This program also prepares students who want to enter into the 13 Roller Hockey Leauge.
The Street Hockey Program is a 10-day program designed to promote the game of hockey. Sticks, balls, nets, goaltender protection, and student instruction workbooks are freely given to any school who decides to participate.
“Street Hockey can contribute to the development of student health, fitness and motor skills, knowledge and understanding of movement concepts, sportsmanship and other beneficial social skills inherent in team sports.” –Chris Corliss, Coordinator of Physical Education Services, Orange County Department of Education
An annual Shootout is hosted at the Honda Center where students in the program compete to win the Shootout Cup.
Top Flight
Top Flight is a program that was established by CHOC Children’s Hospital, with the help of the Anaheim Ducks Foundation, in 2013. Top Flight was created for special needs individuals of any age. In the early stages of the program, it was designed to teach people hockey skills through street hockey. In the past five years, the program has expanded to include ice hockey and ice skating.
For eight to ten weeks, participants learn hockey skills, such as skating, puck and stick handling, shooting, and other fundamentals. Players participate in weekly games to hone their hockey skills. The league is open to anyone of any age. However, although there is a registration fee required to participate, players receive a voucher for a complete set of hockey equipment. Players participating in street hockey will also be given a jersey and a stick at the start of the program.
An eight-week program is also offered for anyone who has no prior experience on the ice. They are taught basic skills over their eight lessons. Participants learn how to stand unassisted, how to safely fall and stand up on their own, and other on-ice fundamentals.
Learn To Play Hockey Program
The Anaheim Ducks Learn To Play Hockey is a program dedicated to offering first-time hockey players the opportunity to learn on-ice skills. This program is spearheaded by two of the Anaheim Ducks most influential leaders, Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. There are programs offered to both youth and adults interested in learning how to play hockey.
All participants in the Youth Learn To Play program are provided with free hockey equipment to use during the four-week course. The sponsorships, provided by Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, provide every child who completes the course with a set of full gear to start their hockey career. This is helpful for families who may not have the financial means to afford the necessary safety equipment their child needs to play hockey.
Adults who participate in the Adult Learn To Play program are provided with similar opportunities. Although they need to provide their own equipment, there is loaner equipment available during the four-week course. Skate rental and the lessons are completely free. This is a huge help to those who cannot afford lessons otherwise. It has also increased the importance, love, and respect people in the community have for hockey.
Making A Lasting Impact
The Anaheim Ducks and the Anaheim Ducks Foundation have taken great strides over the past ten years to support their community. Not only financially, but also by providing programs that encourage children in their education and well being.
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The programs they are involved in are also committed to the growth of hockey in the community. The initiative encourages students to have fun in their physical activity. What is more fun than learning how to play hockey? Not only is the sport of hockey fun, but it also helps children to learn life fundamentals and leadership skills.
The three programs I mentioned just skim the surface of what the Anaheim Ducks do for their community. The Anaheim Ducks are also not the only people at Honda Center who are getting involved. Staff members spend their time volunteering throughout the season as well. In fact, it is highly encouraged.
Each time they volunteer their time, their name is entered into a raffle. At the end of the season, one staff member is chosen as the winner and $500 is donated to a charity of their choice. There are many charities that have benefited from the hard work of everyone at the Honda Center.
The Jesse Rees Foundation is among them, which encourages children of cancer to never stop fighting. OC Ronald McDonald house is another organization that has benefited. They offer a safe environment for families to stay while their children receive treatment at CHOC.
CHOC is not only supported by the Anaheim Ducks Foundation. The hospital is a popular choice among staff who win the raffle. Paw Prints in the Sand has also received donations. They aid in the rehabilitation of abused and abandoned shelter animals with the hopes of rehoming them.
The work that the Anaheim Ducks Foundation, the Anaheim Ducks, and all of Honda Center do is astounding. We need more influencers to stand up and get involved in their community. The fact that the Anaheim Ducks lead the charge has given me a greater respect for the franchise, the Anaheim Ducks Foundation, the players, all of the staff, and the fans.
Next: 5 Ducks Prospects That Could Surprise Us In 2018-19
The lives of children will not only be changed today, but it will continue to impact them for generations to come. I honestly wish I had programs like this available to me when I was younger. I admire the Anaheim Ducks Foundation for all they do, and I look forward to seeing what they do in the future.