The Anaheim Ducks have always had a big heart for their community, and this season, Cam Fowler stepped up in a big way.
One of the most admirable qualities of the Anaheim Ducks is their heart for the people, especially the children, in their community. Not only have the Ducks raised millions of dollars for Orange County and dozens of charities over the past 25 years, but they are investing valuable time, energy, and resources to encourage and cultivate the future generation of hockey fans.
There are several events throughout the season where the sole purpose is to raise funds for the Anaheim Ducks Foundation and partnering organizations. There are also other events that focus on helping the children of their community grown and learn. Ducks and Tux, the Lady Ducks Fashion Show, the Golf Classic, the Center Ice Party, S.C.O.R.E., and the Little Ducks Initiative are just a few events the team hosts.
However, there are several players on the team who have gone one step further and started their own charities or become more involved in the hockey community in one way or another. While the team as a whole has had a tremendous impact in Orange County, the extra work these individual players have put in is going to extra mile to make a difference in the lives of many people, and they deserve to be recognized.
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Community Involvement Award— Honorable Mentions
John Gibson (16% of the vote): John Gibson and his wife, Alexa, got involved with the Ducks Sled Hockey team this year. They even went as far as hosting the team, with the help of the Anaheim Ducks Foundation, at Honda Center in March.
Ryan Getzlaf (17% of the vote): Ryan Getzlaf has a heart of gold, that much is true, and it doesn’t just stop on the ice. Every season, Getzlaf and his wife, Paige, host the Getzlaf Golf Shootout to benefit CureDuchenne. His charity is devoted to finding a cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a fatal childhood disease.
Getzlaf, along with his “twin”, Corey Perry, have also had a big hand in providing children with the opportunity to learn how to play hockey through their Learn to Play program. This allows children who have had no prior experience, and whose parents need financial assistance, to try hockey out for free during a four-week clinic.
Andrew Cogliano (31% of the vote): We had to bid adieu to Ironman this season, but we still want to give him one last nod. Over the past few years, Andrew Cogliano has done tremendous work with his charity “Cogs for Dogs.” He has focused on educating the community about adopting shelter dogs and aiding in finding forever homes for man’s best friend.
Community Involvement Award— Cam Fower (36% of the vote)
This season, Cam Fowler launched C4Kids in partnership with Find Your Grind. This program allows children who need financial assistance the ability to learn how to play, as well as continue to play, the sport they love.
At the prompting of his fiance, Jasmine, Fowler felt like he needed to take the next step in getting more involved with the community where his NHL career began. He inspires passion in the community for the sport that has changed his life.
Not only does he inspire passion, but he is a huge encouragement to the families in Orange County. It isn’t often that you see an athlete dedicate so much of their time and resources in order to help others.
While he is providing scholarships and equipment, he is also getting out on the ice and teaching. It isn’t just hockey skills he is teaching these kids either. CF4 is teaching them valuable life lessons that they can carry with them for years to come. He is a leader, he is humble, confident, and kind. The kids he teaches will pick up on those qualities and imitate him.
It is comforting that hockey will continue to grow in Orange County because of players like Cam Fowler. Due to his dedication to SoCal and his community, Fowler was also the Anaheim Ducks nominee for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy. He may not have won one of the final three nominations, but he is a winner to all of us.
Stay tuned as we announce the winners for our other awards. Thank you for getting involved in the voting process and helping us determine each player who is deserving of winning each award in the Pucks of a Feather Awards “ceremony.”