***Players Charities***



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.



Teammates For Kids

Garth Brooks Teammates for Kids Foundation is the official charity of the NHL and NHLPA. Washington Capitals Donald Brashear, Chris Clark, Eric Fehr, Mike Green and Brent Johnson 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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