Two recent stories on BINJE created nostalgia like few others. Items on the gold medal
in men’s hockey for Team USA had everyone thinking back to the Miracle on Ice. And my thoughts, after watching my sons give back to their local youth sports program, had
many reliving memories from their own local gyms.
Today brings an opportunity for you to put money next to those memories.
The Cranford Hockey Club, a non-profit, family-focused organization led by volunteers
and coaches driven by a love of the game, is getting ready to have its biggest annual
fund-raiser: A pond-hockey event at Warinanco Park in Elizabeth on March 27.
Here’s the best part.
The money raised will not be used to pay for trips to faraway places to compete in the
endless amount of tournaments that now dominate all travel sports — but to give kids
from financially challenged families a chance to play a sport that comes with serious
start-up costs before you even step onto the ice.
This is youth sports done right.
Thanks to the outpouring of generosity over the recent years, the CHC has had more
than a dozen players on full-season needs-based scholarship during this past season.
Dozens more have gone through its beginners Learn to Play program, which is run in
conjunction with the New Jersey Devils (which provides full equipment for each new
player).
The effort is being led by Mike DuHaime, the well-known leader of MAD Global
Strategy. He breaks it down this way.
“We all know the life lessons learned through youth sports participation,” he said. “Our
goal is to increase opportunities for kids who otherwise could not afford the sport, especially from the cities of our home rink (Elizabeth and Roselle) and other cities in
and around Newark.”
That decidedly refreshing approach resonates throughout the CHC, DuHaime said.
“We have the right priorities for youth hockey — and are decidedly not a year-round
club,” he said. “Like USA Hockey and experts in the field who cite reams of supporting
data, we believe our players should take a break during the off-season.
“They should play other sports or just enjoy being kids for a while.”
DuHaime notes that contributions of all sizes are welcome, but certain dollar amounts
correspond to certain costs.
For instance, a donation of $150 provides a beginner to get a full “Learn to Play”
scholarship, which is eight lessons plus full equipment from helmet to skates. (The
program is run by CHC volunteer coaches and backed by the Devils.)
Please note, full-season costs range between $2,800-$3,400, which hockey parents
know is low — and only is possible because the CHC is an all-volunteer organization
that plays at a county rink to keep costs down.
Here are some other contribution levels:
- $75: New pads
- $200: New helmet
- $225: New stick
- $500: New skates
The Cranford Hockey Club has been around since 1956. DuHaime and his wife Dore
seeded the scholarship fund a few years back. The impact has been overwhelming,
they say.
DuHaime is grateful to Union County officials, who have been a big supporter of the
program — and worked to fund the new rink now under construction.
Of course, the biggest thanks come from the parents of scholarship recipients, he said.
“The notes we get from some grateful parents make you want to cry,” he said.
It all goes back to giving back.
“We are growing the game the right way with a community non-profit model,” Duhaime
said.
BOX: Pond hockey fundraiser
The Cranford Hockey Club will host its annual fundraiser on March 27 (6-10 p.m.) at
Warinanco Park in Elizabeth to raise money for the scholarship program that gives kids
from financially challenged households a chance to play.
Donations:
- Corporate/individual sponsor: $1,000;
- Adult or mixed-age team of six: $750;
- Discount for youth team of six: 20%
- Individual player to be placed on a team: $150
- Spectator pass (includes food and drink): $75
For more information, click here.
The scholarship fund and the club itself are 501(c)3 organizations, and all contributions
are tax-deductible.
