MINNESOTA WILD FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES $733,470 IN TOTAL GIVING DURING 2021-22 SEASON

SAINT PAUL, Minn. - Thanks to the incredible generosity of Wild fans, donors, corporate and community partners, the Minnesota Wild announced today that the Minnesota Wild Foundation distributed a total of $733,470 through grants and Split the Pot Raffle proceeds to local charities during the 2021-22 season.

“We are extremely excited to be able to provide support to these wonderful community programs, charities and youth hockey associations,” said Rachel Schuldt, Executive Director of the Minnesota Wild Foundation. “The Wild Foundation and its board of directors is incredibly thankful for the tremendous fan support that allows us to help our community and continue to grow the great sport of hockey.”

The Minnesota Wild Foundation provided $324,500 in grants to the following organizations in the State of Hockey:

• Minnesota Hockey received $52,500 to support important grow the game initiatives throughout the State of Hockey including the Gear Up Minnesota Equipment Grant Program, the Little Wild Learn to Play Program, the Family Mentor Program and the Never Too Late Hockey Camp. Minnesota Hockey also received $15,000 from the proceeds of the Wild Foundation’s Black History Celebration jersey online auction to support its diversity in hockey programming. Wild players wore custom jerseys during pregame warmups on January 14 to help celebrate Black History Month. For more information visit www.minnesotahockey.org.
• Children’s Minnesota Foundation received $50,000 from proceeds of the Wild Foundation’s annual Wild About Children event, presented by West Bend, to support the Children’s Minnesota Mental Health program. This year’s event was in the form of an online auction and giving campaign held in February. Thanks to generous purchases from donors, the Wild Foundation was also able to donate 189 hooded sweatshirt blankets sold as a Buy One Give One item during the event. Children’s Minnesota Foundation also received $15,000 from proceeds of the Wild Foundation’s Pride Jersey online auction to support the Children’s Minnesota Gender Health program. Wild players wore Pride themed warmup jerseys for the team’s first Pride Night on March 29. Children’s Minnesota Foundation also received $5,000 from the Wild Foundation in honor of Mikko Koivu’s Jersey Retirement Night on March 13. For more information visit www.childrensmn.org.
• The Children’s Cancer Research Fund received $10,000 from proceeds of the Wild Foundation’s Hockey Fights Cancer jersey online auction to support cancer research. Wild players wore lavender Hockey Fights Cancer warmup jerseys for Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Night on November 2. For more information visit www.childrenscancer.org.
• Minnesota Youth Hockey Associations received $47,000. Minnesota youth and amateur hockey associations were invited to sell game programs at Wild home games and each received a $1,000 grant from the Wild Foundation to support their association.
• DinoMights received $25,000 to support its Hockey Is For Everyone Youth Hockey Program and their annual Learn 2 Skate recruiting program that provides opportunities for kids to play hockey in addition to tutoring, mentorship and spiritual development opportunities in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. For more information visit www.dinomights.com.

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• CollegeBound Saint Paul received $25,000 to support its goal of providing a college savings account with $50 for each child who lives in Saint Paul and is born on or after January 1, 2020. The purpose of the program is to connect families and their children to early childhood resources as well as financial education and tools to be financially healthy to provide a pathway to a brighter future for both families and the city. For more information visit www.collegeboundstp.com.
• Interfaith Action of Greater Saint Paul received $15,000 from proceeds of the Wild Foundation’s Native American Heritage jersey online auction to support its American Indian Youth Enrichment program. Wild players wore Native American Heritage warmup jerseys on November 26 to help celebrate Native American Heritage Day. For more visit www.interfaithaction.org.
• United Heroes League received $10,000 from proceeds of the Wild Foundation’s camouflage jersey online auction to help keep military kids engaged in hockey. Wild players wore camouflage jerseys during warmups for Military Appreciation Night on February 12. For more information visit www.unitedheroesleague.org.
• Mankato Youth Hockey received $10,000 to help grow the game in Mankato as part of Hockey Day Minnesota 2022. For more information visit www.mankatohockey.com.
• On behalf of the Iowa Wild, the Wild’s AHL affiliate, MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center (www.mercyone.org) and the Des Moines Youth Hockey Association (www.dmyha.com) each received $10,000 and the Gabe Fleming Memorial Hockey Scholarship Fund (www.gabeflemingmhsf.org) received $5,000.
• The Minnesota High School Boys Coaches Association and the Minnesota Girls Hockey Coaches Association each received $7,500 to provide ice time, coach and player training and development opportunities, equipment, and assistance for player fees associated with hockey or related activities.
• Hockey Ministries International received $5,000 to support the development of youth hockey players in Minnesota through scholarships for summer hockey camps. For more information visit www.hockeyministries.org.

In addition, $408,970 in raffle proceeds from the Minnesota Wild Foundation’s Split the Pot Raffle Program were donated to the following 25 local non-profits:

• Autism Society of Minnesota
• Children’s Minnesota Foundation
• Crescent Cove
• DinoMights
• Faith’s Lodge
• Friends of Saint Paul Hockey
• Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare
• Hendrickson Foundation
• Herb Brooks Foundation
• Hiway Credit Union Foundation Hockey Kids4Kids
• Hobey Baker Memorial Award Foundation
• HopeKids
• Minnesota Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs

• Minnesota Amateur Athletics Foundation
• Minnesota Hockey
• Minnesota Sled Hockey Association
• Minnesota Special Olympics
• Minnesota Warrior Hockey Association
• Minnesota Wild Blind Hockey via Edina Community Foundation
• Minnesota Wild Foundation
• Minnesota Wild Special Hockey
• Pinky Swear Foundation
• Ronald McDonald House Charities - Upper Midwest
• United States Hockey Hall of Fame Museum
• Wishes & More