***Players Charities***



Jose Theodore's Saves for Kids

Washington Capitals goaltender Jose Theodore recently created Saves for Kids, a fundraising program that will benefit the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Theodore and his wife, Stephanie Cloutier, lost their two-month-old son, Chace, last August from respiratory complications related to a premature birth. It was at Children’s National where Jose and Stephanie spent most of their time during their son’s 54-day life. With Saves for Kids, Theodore wanted to create a foundation to honor his son’s life and to give back to the hospital where he and his wife had spent so many days in the summer.

At Children's National Medical Center, the 54-bed quaternary-level unit (now termed Level IIIC, the highest distinction available by the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines is one of the region’s major neonatal referral centers for sick newborn and/or infants (ages birth to three months). Children’s NICU services more than 40 in-region and out-of-region hospitals.

At the end of the season Theodore will make a donation to the NICU at Children’s National based on his statistics, donating $2 for every save, $100 for every win and $500 for each shutout. F.H. Furr Plumbing Heating Air Conditioning Inc., a Lennox Premier Dealer, will match Theodore’s donation dollar for dollar during the regular season. During the playoffs, Theodore will up the ante, donating $5 for every save, $200 for every win, $750 for every shutout and an additional $500 for every playoff round won.

Fans also have the opportunity to donate to Saves for Kids via PayPal on WashingtonCaps.com, either pledging based on Theodore’s statistics or making a one-time donation. In the week after Theodore’s story ran in the Washington Post, Caps fans donated more than $6,500.

At the end of the season Washington Capitals Charities will also make a contribution to the cause. At that time, Theodore plans go to the NICU at Children’s National to present the check with the total Saves for Kids donation.

For more information, contact Elizabeth Wodatch at ewodatch@washcaps.com. To make a donation, please send a check made payable to Washington Capitals Charities, earmarked for Saves for Kids, to:

Kettler Capitals Iceplex
627 N. Glebe Road
Suite 850
Arlington, VA. 22203



Alex Ovechkin's Crazy 8's

After establishing himself as one of the top NHL players on the ice during his rookie season, Alex Ovechkin decided it was time to step up his community involvement and created Alex Ovechkin’s Crazy 8s. Starting in 2006, Ovechkin will provide underserved children and soldiers the chance to see the Capitals play at Verizon Center free of charge. Ovechkin will purchase eight Capitals season tickets and donate them to Most Valuable Kids (MVK). MVK will then distribute these tickets to either soldiers and their families or to boys and girls, 18 and under, through numerous nonprofit organizations that focus on children in low-income and underserved households.

Alex Ovechkin’s Crazy 8s will sit in their very own special section in the lower level of Verizon Center and will be recognized at every home game. In addition, each person in the section will receive a foam 8 and one child at each game will get to ride the Olympia ice resurfacer during intermission.



Green's Gang

After a breakout season in 2007-08 where he led all defenseman in scoring in the NHL, Mike Green wanted prove he is also a leader off the ice. Following in the steps of teammate and league MVP Alex Ovechkin, Green decided to provide Capitals game tickets to underserved children and soldiers in the D.C. area. Green purchases seven Capitals season tickets and donates them to Most Valuable Kids (MVK). MVK then distributes these tickets to either soldiers and their families or to boys and girls, 18 and under, through numerous nonprofit organizations that focus on children in low-income and underserved households.

Green’s Gang sit in their very own special section in the lower level of Verizon Center and are recognized at every home game. In addition, each person in the section receives a foam Mohawk and at select games participants have an opportunity to ride the Olympia ice resurfacer and meet Green after the game.



So Kids Can

Capitals defenseman Mike Green and Elliot Segal of the Elliot in the Morning show have teamed up to create the So Kids Can program, a fundraising initiative that will benefit a different youth-focused, nonprofit organization each year.

The inaugural season of So Kids Can raised nearly $30,000 for Pediatric Prosthetics, Inc., an organization that helps families throughout the United States who have children who have either lost a limb or have congenital limb deficiency. The funds raised through So Kids Can were distributed through Pediatric Prosthetics to children in need in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.

This season So Kids Can will benefit Children’s National Medical Center, with the money raised going toward computers, video game consoles and toys for patients. Children’s National Medical Center has more than 370,000 patient visits in a year, both in the hospital and at its outpatient centers. That’s a lot of children who still want to play, no matter what their health or physical limitations. By donating to So Kids Can, Green and Elliot are providing the children at CNMC with the opportunity to just be kids during their stay.

Children’s National Medical Center, based in Washington, D.C., is a leader in the development of innovative new treatments for childhood illness and injury. Among the top pediatric hospitals in America, as ranked by both U.S. News & World Report and the prestigious Leapfrog Group, Children’s National has served the nation’s children for more than 135 years. For more information, visit www.childrensnational.org.

All funds raised for So Kids Can are based on Green’s official scoring statistics. Green will donate $100 for every goal he scores and $50 for each of his assists throughout the regular season. During the playoffs Green will double the stakes, donating $200 per goal and $100 per assist.

At the end of the season Elliot will match the total amount, dollar for dollar. Washington Capitals Charities also will make a contribution to So Kids Can, and Caps fans and area businesses are encouraged to participate.

Please visit washingtoncaps.com for more info.



Teammates For Kids

Garth Brooks Teammates for Kids Foundation is the official charity of the NHL and NHLPA. Washington Capitals Eric Fehr, Mike Green and Tyler Sloan all participate in Top Shelf Teammates, the hockey division of the Garth Brooks Teammates For Kids Foundation. Top Shelf Teammates contributes financial resources to nonprofit organizations that benefit children's health, education and inner-city services. Since its inception in 2001, nearly 400 NHL players have participated in the program by donating more than $1 million to the Foundation. Players contribute a pre-determined sum based on selected on-ice performance categories such as goals scored or team wins. Every dollar contributed by players is tripled through an affiliation with other donors. Because outside sources secured by the Foundation cover all operating expenses, 100% of donated money is distributed to children's charities. For more information on the Garth Brooks Teammates for Kids Foundation, go to
http://www.t4kids.com/index2.html.

For more information on any of the above initiatives, please contact Elizabeth Wodatch, community relations director, at ewodatch@washcaps.com.




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