The organization’s efforts during the most recent season included its traditional Pink in the Rink ($25,000) and Race ($20,000) weekends, each of which generated funds through ticket proceeds and specialty jersey and helmet auctions. Other annual events included the Checkers 5K Run and Walk and Bowling with the Checkers ($6,000) events, which raised money for the Checkers Charitable Foundation, and the Salute to Heroes Game, which raised $22,000 for the families of fallen and injured public service workers.
In total, nearly 250 local organizations received donations from the Checkers throughout the season. Checkers players, led by Kyle Hagel, who won the Yanick Dupre award as the AHL’s Man of the Year in the community, and staff also made over 150 appearances at schools, hospitals and special events in the Charlotte area, including the in-person donation of stuffed animals to Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital that fans donated through the annual Teddy Bear Toss promotion.
Several educational programs continued in 2014-15, impacting the lives of more than 10,000 area elementary and high school students in more than 400 classrooms. The programs included the Pick up a Book and Read program, which incentivizes elementary school students to meet reading goals, Science of Hockey, which teaches the elements of science in hockey, PowerPLAY, which encourages healthy eating and active living, and the School Assembly Program, which teaches valuable and motivational life skills.
Since joining the AHL prior to the 2010-11 season, the Checkers have won their conference’s year-end Excellence in Community Service award twice, including the Western Conference honor for the 2013-14 campaign.
