Hockey Helps Kids Returns for Fourth NHL Season

April 18, 2018
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School applications are open now until May 18, 2018

(Edmonton, AB) – On the heels of another successful Hockey Helps Kids season, the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation (EOCF) announced that the exciting philanthropic initiative for junior high school students, Hockey Helps Kids, will return for its fourth NHL season as a key program for the Edmonton Oilers and EOCF. Applications for schools to participate in the program for this upcoming 2018-19 campaign are now open. Four schools will be selected following an interview process.

Hockey Helps Kids, the philanthropic initiative of Chloe and Harrison Katz, children of Oilers Entertainment Group (OEG) owner Daryl Katz and his wife Renee, is a fun and innovative charity competition bringing together local schools, charities and the Edmonton Oilers to raise awareness and funds for a variety of causes. To date, Hockey Helps Kids has engaged more than 6,000 junior high school students in Edmonton.

Hockey Helps Kids provides junior high school students in Grades 7 to 9 the opportunity to learn about the importance of being active and positive members of their community. Hockey Helps Kids complements each schools’ leadership curriculum, encouraging students to grow alongside the program while raising awareness and funds for local charities and learning the importance of making your community a better place for others.

Building off three years of success, the fourth season of Hockey Helps Kids is looking ahead for significant growth and momentum in Edmonton & Area. The following school boards are eligible to apply:

  • Edmonton Public Schools
  • Edmonton Catholic Schools
  • Elk Island Public (Sherwood Park and Fort Saskatchewan only)
  • Elk Island Catholic (Sherwood Park and Fort Saskatchewan only)
  • Evergreen Catholic (Spruce Grove and Stony Plain only)
  • Parkland Public School District (Spruce Grove and Stony Plain only)
  • Albert Public (St. Albert only)
  • Greater St. Albert Catholic (St. Albert only)
  • Black Gold Public School Division (Leduc and Beaumont only)
  • Thomas Aquinas (Leduc and Beaumont only)

“The most rewarding part of Hockey Helps Kids is how passionate students become about their communities. We encourage all interested students, teachers and schools to get involved with Hockey Helps Kids. The program focuses on building meaningful connections with the community and helps junior high school students understand the importance of helping make their community a better place,” said Hockey Helps Kids Co-Founder Chloe Katz.

“Every year, we set new goals for this program and we’re excited for what this fourth season of Hockey Helps Kids will bring. Looking back at the funds raised and charities touched, Hockey Helps Kids students have made a significant impact in their communities,” said Hockey Helps Kids Co-Founder Harrison Katz.

Past Hockey Helps Kids Charity Cup winners include Team McDavid and Killarney School, who won $25,000 for the Zebra Child Protection Centre in 2015-16 and Team Nugent-Hopkins with Father Michael Troy School winning $25,000 for Sport Central in 2016-17. Last season, Team Nugent-Hopkins emerged as the back-to-back champion, claiming the 3rd annual Hockey Helps Kids Charity Cup with Mary Butterworth School, winning $25,000 for Dogs With Wings Society.

Students will once again engage in research, interviews and data collection to select their charity of choice in the fourth season, and will team up with an Edmonton Oilers player who will again wear the “C” as each team’s captain. Each team will be tasked with creating a two-minute video pitch to promote their charity and solicit online votes and awareness with the goal of garnering the most votes during the voting period. The winning Hockey Helps Kids team will receive $25,000 for their local charity and the runner-ups will each receive a $10,000 donation for their charities as well.

More information on captains for the upcoming Hockey Helps Kids season will be announced prior to next season.