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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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