WILD FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES $1,394,441 IN TOTAL GIVING DURING 2022-23
Jun 28, 2023SAINT PAUL, Minn. - Thanks to the incredible generosity of Wild fans, donors, corporate and community partners, the Minnesota Wild announced today that the Minnesota Wild Foundation distributed a total of $1,394,441 through grants and Split the Pot Raffle proceeds to local charities during the 2022-23 season.
"The Wild Foundation and its board of directors is delighted to support these incredible community programs, charities and youth hockey associations," said Rachel Schuldt, Executive Director of the Minnesota Wild Foundation. "This work would not be possible without the continued support from our fan base year after year. We're thankful to be able to better our community and create a greater State of Hockey for all."
The Minnesota Wild Foundation provided $481,500 in grants to the following organizations in the State of Hockey:
· On behalf of the Iowa Wild, the Wild's AHL affiliate, the Des Moines Youth Hockey Association (www.dmyha.com) received $10,000, the Impactful Opportunities with Athletes Foundation (www.theiowafoundation.com) received $5,500, the Gabe Fleming Memorial Hockey Scholarship Fund (www.gabeflemingmhsf.org) received $5,000, Mentor Iowa (www.mentoriowa.org) received $3,000 and ChildServe (www.childserve.org) received $1,500.
· Children's Minnesota Foundation received $150,000 from proceeds of the Wild Foundation's annual Wild About Children event, presented by West Bend, to support the Children's Minnesota new interoperative MRI suite. Children's Minnesota is the first children's health care system in the nation to utilize this unique surgical resource to enhance care for kids undergoing brain and spinal surgeries. Children's Minnesota Foundation also received $5,000 from the Wild Foundation in honor of Alex Goligoski's 1000th Game Celebration on November 19. For more information visit www.childrensmn.org.
· Minnesota Hockey received $52,500 to support important grow the game initiatives throughout the State of Hockey including the Gear Up Minnesota Equipment Grant Program, the Little Wild Learn to Play Program, the Family Mentor Program and the Never Too Late Hockey Camp. For more information visit www.minnesotahockey.org.
· DinoMights received $25,000 to support its Hockey Is For Everyone Youth Hockey Program and their annual Learn 2 Skate recruiting program that provides opportunities for kids to play hockey in addition to tutoring, mentorship and spiritual development opportunities in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. DinoMights also received $15,000 from the proceeds of the Wild Foundation's Black History Celebration jersey online auction to support its diversity in hockey programming and received $5,000 on behalf of Matt Dumba for receiving the inaugural Tom Kurvers Humanitarian Award. For more information visit www.dinomights.com.
· Minnesota Youth Hockey Associations received $44,000. Minnesota youth and amateur hockey associations were invited to sell game programs at Wild home games and each received a $1,000 grant from the Wild Foundation to support their association.
· CollegeBound Saint Paul received $25,000 to support its goal of providing a college savings account with $50 for each child who lives in Saint Paul and is born on or after January 1, 2020. The purpose of the program is to connect families and their children to early childhood resources as well as financial education and tools to be financially healthy to provide a pathway to a brighter future for both families and the city. For more information visit www.collegeboundstp.com.
· Children's Cancer Research Fund (www.childrenscancer.org) and the Janis Foligno Foundation (www.janisfolignofoundation.com) each received $15,000 from proceeds of the Wild Foundation's Whiskey and Wine with the Wild event, held on February 19 and hosted by Marcus and Natascia Foligno, to support cancer research.
· Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare received $15,000 from the proceeds of the Wild Foundation's Strike it Wild bowling event held on October 12. For more information visit www.gillettechildrens.org.
· Dream of Wild Health received $15,000 from proceeds of the Wild Foundation's Native American Heritage jersey online auction to support its American Indian Youth Enrichment program. The Wild, in partnership with the Prairie Island Indian Community, celebrated Native American Heritage Day during its game on November 25. For more visit www.dreamofwildhealth.org.
· United Heroes League received $15,000 from proceeds of the Wild Foundation's camouflage jersey online auction to help keep military kids engaged in hockey. The Wild held Military Appreciation Night on December 14. For more information visit www.unitedheroesleague.org.
· The Pinky Swear Foundation received $15,000 from proceeds of the Wild Foundation's Hockey Fights Cancer jersey online auction. The Wild held Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Night on November 13. For more information visit www.pinkyswear.org.
· White Bear Lake Youth Hockey received $10,000 to help grow the game in White Bear Lake as part of Hockey Day Minnesota 2023. For more information visit www.wblhockey.com.
· The Minnesota High School Boys Coaches Association (www.mnhockeycoach.com) and the Minnesota Girls Hockey Coaches Association (www.mghca.com) each received $7,500 to provide ice time, coach and player training and development opportunities, equipment, and assistance for player fees associated with hockey or related activities.
· Hockey Ministries International received $5,000 to support the development of youth hockey players in Minnesota through scholarships for summer hockey camps. For more information visit www.hockeyministries.org.
· The Minnesota Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs received $5,000 to support the Home Team Scholarship program done in partnership with Bally Sports North and all of the Minnesota professional team foundations. For more information visit www.bgcminnesota.org.
· The Minute Men Amateur Athletics Foundation received $5,000 to promote cultural diversity and inclusiveness through athletics. For more information visit www.minnesotaminutemen.com.
· Movember received $5,000 from the Wild's company-wide Movember campaign in support of men's health. For more information, visit www.us.movember.com.
In addition, $912,941 in raffle proceeds from the Minnesota Wild Foundation's Split the Pot Raffle Program were donated to the following 31 local non-profits:
• Autism Society of Minnesota
• Camp Odayin
• Children's Cancer Research Fund
• Crescent Cove
• DinoMights
• Edina Community Foundation for MN Wild Blind Hockey
• Edina Community Foundation for MN Sled Hockey
• Edina Community Foundation for MN Wild Deaf & Hard Of Hearing Hockey
• Faith's Lodge
• Fraser
• Friends of St. Paul Hockey
• Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare
• Hendrickson Foundation
• Herb Brooks Foundation
• HiWay Credit Union Foundation/Hockey Kids 4 Kids
• Hobey Baker Memorial Award Foundation
• HopeKids
• Make A Wish Minnesota
• Minnesota Hockey
• Minnesota Warriors Ice Hockey
• Minnesota Wild Foundation
• Minnesota Wild Special Hockey
• Pinky Swear Foundation
• Ronald McDonald House Charities - Upper Midwest
• Special Olympics Minnesota
• Twin Cities Pride
• United Heroes League
• US Hockey Hall of Fame Museum
• Washburn Center For Children
• Wishes & More
• Women's Hockey Association of Minnesota
The Minnesota Wild Foundation exists to support the game of hockey and improve the lives of families in the State of Hockey. With support from Wild players, fans and donors, the Minnesota Wild Foundation supports pediatric medical causes, serves as the largest non-member funding source for Minnesota Hockey, and provides fundraising opportunities for youth hockey associations across the state. Since its inception in 2009, the Wild Foundation has distributed more than $5.3 million in grants to hockey organizations and children's medical related charities and has dispersed over $3 million to local charities through its Split the Pot Raffle program. Together we create a Greater State of Hockey. For more information and to donate, visit www.wild.com/foundation or contact us at mnwildfoundation@wild.com or 651-602-6000.
Iowa Wild hockey is presented by MercyOne. For more information, please visit www.iowawild.com. Fans can purchase single-game tickets through the team’s website at www.iowawild.com. Group tickets (10 or more), suites, Wild 365 memberships or premium tickets can be purchased by contacting the Iowa Wild Ticket Department at 515-564-8700 or tickets@iowawild.com. Season tickets for 2023-24 are on sale now. Fans can purchase season tickets for the upcoming season at https://www.iowawild.com/wild-365.
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