Anaheim Ducks Nominated as Finalist for ESPN’s Sports Humanitarian of the Year

For the second consecutive year, the Anaheim Ducks have been nominated as one of the four finalists for ESPN’s Sports Humanitarian of the Year Award.

For the past 25 years, the Anaheim Ducks have been the forerunners in bringing positive change to Orange County. Instead of sitting idly by and waiting for someone else to step up when they see a need, they make sure it is met; and for that, they have been nominated as one of the finalists for ESPN’s Sports Humanitarian of the Year Award for their second consecutive year.

Since 2015, the ESPN Sports Humanitarian Awards have been used as a platform to celebrate and honor athletes or teams who have had a positive impact on society. The Sports Humanitarian of the Year is chosen based on how well a team or sports club best represents and demonstrates how teamwork can have a positive and notable impact on their community or an important cause.

Last year, the Anaheim Ducks were nominated alongside the Boston Red Sox (MLB), Chicago Fire (MLS), and the 2017-18 U.S. Women’s National Ice Hockey Team. Rightfully so, the U.S. Women’s National Ice Hockey Team won the award for their work in inspiring generations of women to stand up and speak out against inequality.

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The 2019 ESPN Humanitarian of the Year Nominees

The Anaheim Ducks have found themselves nominated for the second year for their work throughout Orange County. Their S.C.O.R.E. program, created in 2005, uses hockey to teach educational themes through programs like Reading is the Goal and the First Flight Field Trip.

The Anaheim Ducks Foundation also makes it possible for children and families to have access to the sport of hockey while simultaneously providing educational opportunities as well as promote positive character building.

The players, and even the Lady Ducks (spearheaded by Ryan Getzlaf‘s wife), have found several ways to get involved in the community as well, raising funds for CHOC Children’s Hospital and other local charities.

The Chicago Fire Soccer Club is also joining the Ducks as a nominee for the second year in a row for their incredible work with their P.L.A.Y.S. Program (Participate, Learn, Achieve, Youth, Soccer) which combines soccer as well as social and emotional learning character skills during a 10 week program to help improve academic performance in students.

New York City F.C. has also been recognized for their creative and tactic initiatives involving soccer. NYCFC offers several free community soccer events throughout New York City in order to fight against childhood obesity, high-school dropouts, and other social issues. They provide over 5,000 children with a safe environment the play soccer as well as promote and instill important lessons these children may not learn otherwise.

Just a short drive north, granted if there isn’t traffic, from the Anaheim Ducks, the Los Angeles Dodgers have been nominated to recognize their official charity, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation. The LADF has a vision in giving children in the Los Angles area the opportunity to thrive, no matter where they are from.

They have been responsible for everything from preparing students for college to promoting a love for reading. The foundation inspires kids and encourages their confidence to grow using baseball as their main tool.

Furthering Important Charitable Work

The team or club who wins the Sports Humanitarian of the Year Award will have the distinct honor of furthering their charitable efforts by being awarded a 100,000 grant from ESPN to apply towards their charity. Each one of these teams deserves to win, and a second nomination shows just how big of an impact Anaheim Ducks have had in Orange County over the past 25 years.

The winner will be announced on July, 9th at L.A. Live. ESPN will also host a one-hour special sharing highlights from the evening on July 18th at 7 pm EST.