Everblades Donate $252,850 to Local Charities in 2017-18

ESTERO, FL – The Florida Everblades are proud to announce that the team donated a total of $252,850 in cash, goods, and services to local charities during the 2017-18 season, an increase of $38,288 from the previous year. In addition, the Everblades organization has now donated nearly $1 million dollars to local charitable causes throughout the past five seasons.

During the 2017-18 season, the Everblades also donated nearly 450 gift packs to local charities and non-profit organizations which were utilized for raffles and auctions which helped raise additional funds.

The Blades Backers program which is underwritten by 15 local sponsors, contributed $88,000 to provide tickets to 8,800 underprivileged children and their families.

In November, the team generated $18,100 for the National Coalition for Patriots, a national organization based in Southwest Florida. The organization provides direct support to our military veterans.

In December, the team collected nearly 8,000 teddy bears in the annual IBERIABANK Teddy Bear Toss game. The teddy bears and stuffed animals were distributed to local children’s charities for the holidays. The entire Everblades team personally delivered a portion of the teddy bears to the patients at the Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida located in Fort Myers.

In February, a total of $29,450 was raised during the annual Pink in the Rink promotion which gives back to local cancer charities. The night was presented by Radiology Regional. An additional $30,050 was raised for the Passion Foundation which is a local organization that builds shade structures at local schools to significantly reduce the amount of sun exposure to children.

On March 30, the team in conjunction with Hertz, collected over 450 pairs of shoes (pictured below) for Laces of Love, an organization that distributes shoes to teenagers and children in need in Southwest Florida.

On March 31, the team held its Inaugural Pucks and Paws Nightpresented by the Shoppes of Estero Animal Hospital. The event allowed fans the opportunity to bring their dogs to the game while also supporting several animal causes such as the Gulf Coast Humane Society.

Forwards Michael Kirkpatrick and Steven Lorentz were the recipients of the team’s Piper Buckley Community Service Award, presented by the Hyatt Place at Coconut Point.

Throughout the past five years, the Everblades organization has donated $966,728 to charitable causes in Southwest Florida.

“Our 20th season was comprised of many accomplishments both on and off the ice," said Everblades Vice President of Business Development Chris Palin. “We are very proud to have increased our charitable donations to a record high this past season. We will continue to give back to a community that has supported us for over two decades”

Last month, the ECHL announced that its 27 member teams raised more than $3.6 million to charitable and non-profit organizations during the 2017-18 season.

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The Everblades are the proud ECHL affiliateof the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes###