Foundation’s New Sponsors to Launch Inaugural Hockey Equipment Drive

The Wayne Gretzky Foundation today announced that the Ford Dealer Associations and Ford of Canada have come on board as sponsors of Wayne Gretzky’s new charitable foundation and will help launch its first official initiative in Canada. In order to help achieve one of the Foundation’s primary goals – to provide hockey equipment to youth who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford it – the Ford Dealers will launch a used hockey equipment drive later this year.

I couldn’t be happier with the way the Ford team has answered the call to help with the mission of the Wayne Gretzky Foundation to provide youth with the opportunity to experience the great sport of hockey, said Gretzky. In looking for a corporate sponsor to launch the first initiative for my new foundation, I recognized the need for an organization that is national, but also has very close ties to the community. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner.

The Ford Dealers Used Equipment Drive, the Foundation’s inaugural program, is being organized by the Alberta, Prairies and Ontario Ford Dealers Associations. Beginning March 1, 2003, Canadians in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario will be encouraged to visit their participating local Ford or Ford Lincoln dealer to drop off used hockey equipment in support of the Wayne Gretzky Foundation. The Foundation will then work with minor hockey associations and other community groups in each province to coordinate pick up and distribution of collected equipment at the community level.

The Ford team also plans to work with the Foundation to develop a number of other programs in the future.

Gretzky is Canada’s hockey ambassador and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with the Wayne Gretzky Foundation to help bring this wonderful game to children from coast-to-coast, said Randy Dunlop, Chair, Alberta Ford Dealers Association.

In October of last year, Gretzky signed on with Ford and its dealers in a marketing partnership that will see Wayne participate in a number of advertising and communications initiatives. The first element of this partnership was the Celebrate Built for Life in Canada marketing campaign at Ford dealers across the country.

Recently, we were fortunate to be able to introduce Wayne Gretzky as an important member of Team Ford. And now we are extremely proud to join the Wayne Gretzky Foundation team as it strives to provide youth with the opportunity to enjoy hockey, said Mike Herniak, Regional Manager, Ford of Canada. Partnering with the Wayne Gretzky Foundation is a perfect complement to our existing relationship with Wayne and builds on our shared values of honesty, hard work, determination and the belief that the communities we serve are where our future is firmly rooted.

The Wayne Gretzky Foundation is dedicated to providing youth throughout North America with the opportunity to experience the sport of hockey.

Hockey has obviously been a very important part of my life – not just in terms of a career, but also in helping me develop as a person, said Gretzky. It teaches many valuable life skills and contributes to the physical, emotional and social growth of young people.

There are so many kids that love the game of hockey, but will never have the chance to play, said Gretzky. Hockey is expensive – the equipment, the ice time, the practices all cost money… money some families just don’t have. That’s why we created the Wayne Gretzky Foundation, and with the support of our partners, Ford and the Ford Dealers across Canada, we will strive to ensure that every child who wants to play the game is able to do so.

Ford and its dealers have been involved with Canadian hockey, both at the professional and at the minor level for a number of years. Ford has been a major advertiser on CBC's Hockey Night in Canada for 31 years and currently has sponsorship agreements with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames and Montreal’s Bell Centre – home of the Montreal Canadiens. Canadian Ford dealers also provide financial support for minor hockey teams, transportation to games and contributed to arenas in most communities throughout Canada.

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Dan Klein is a successful author and publisher of http://www./. Find hockey apparel, bags, gloves, gear, sticks, skates, training aids and much more.

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Foundation’s New Sponsors to Launch Inaugural Hockey Equipment Drive