Benefactors to receive funds at Friday's game primarily comprise participating non-profit organizations in the Gladiators 1st Annual "Pink in the Rink" Weekend, including the American Cancer Society, Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation, Emory Eastside Hospital, TuTus for TaTas, and VolleyFest.
The Gladiators and their fans raised over $75,000 during the team's first annual "Pink in the Rink" Weekend from February 8th through the 10th. The Gladiators will be presenting over $35,000 to the participating non profit organizations from the "Pink in the Rink" Weekend, while the remaining $40,000 will be allocated for charitable contributions made by the team under the trust management authority of the Gladiators Foundation for Kids.
A majority of the funds during the "Pink in the Rink Weekend" were raised from the auction of the team's special commemorative jerseys worn throughout the weekend. Additional funds were generated through the sale of special edition pink t-shirts at all three games, 50/50 raffles, special pink Gladiators merchandise and an online auction on the pink warm-up sticks.
Several charitable entities associated with breast cancer fundraising and awareness sold special beneficiary-apportioned game tickets for all three games, with a percentage of the ticket price donated back to the non-profit organization.
"The Gladiators made it easy," said Lynn Roberts of VolleyFest. "Everything fell into place and it was just great. The idea that we sold the most tickets made me most proud. We hope to do it again next season."
The Gladiators will present VolleyFest with over $11,000 from their participation with the "Pink in the Rink" event, while the American Cancer Society netted just under $10,000 through their participation. TuTus for TaTas, Mary Kay Ash CF, and Emory Eastside will each be presented with a little over $4,500 for their respective organizations as a result of their participation in the Gladiators "Pink in the Rink" Weekend.
In addition, the Gladiators will distribute the proceeds generated from the team's annual "Fed by the Gladiators" charity dinner and auction held this season at Little Gardens Restaurant in Lawrenceville on January 15th. The unique players-as-waiters event raised $9,000 for the Gwinnett Children's Shelter with an additional $5,500 allocated to the Gladiators Foundation for Kids.
The Gladiators Foundation for Kids was established by the by the Gwinnett Gladiators to help support the many non-profit agencies and organizations who work with children in Gwinnett and surrounding communities. The Gladiators Foundation for Kids is managed by the Community Foundation For Northeast Georgia, a preeminent 501-C-3 charitable trust management group based in Duluth, GA.
The Gladiators continue their fifth anniversary season on Friday, March 14th as they host the South Carolina Stingrays at 7:35 p.m. at the Arena at Gwinnett Center. Catch all the play-by-play action in Friday's game on WDUN, News Talk 550.
Celebrating its 20th Anniversary as the Premier 'AA' Hockey League in 2007-08, the ECHL began in 1988-89 with five teams in three states and has grown to be a coast-to-coast league that has 25 teams in 17 states and British Columbia in 2007-08. The 25 teams includes the Mississippi (Biloxi) Sea Wolves, who return after missing two seasons in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and the expansion Elmira (N.Y.) Jackals. The ECHL will play 900 games beginning Oct. 18 and concluding Apr. 5.
The Gwinnett Gladiators continue their fifth season as a proud member of the ECHL - season ticket packages are on sale now. In addition, the Gladiators offer several unique multi-game ticket packages as well as discounted group rates, suite rentals, and birthday parties. For more information call 770-497-5100 or log on to gwinnettgladiators.com.
The Gladiators are the AA affiliate of the Atlanta Thrashers and play all home games at the spectacular 11,355-seat Arena at Gwinnett Center, located just off I-85 on Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth, where parking is always free.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2008/3/207965