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Rochester Americans

Amerks Raise Over $60,000 for Local Charities in 2008/09

June 8, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Rochester Americans News Release


(Rochester, NY)... The Rochester Americans and their foundation, Rochester Knighthawks/Amerks Charitable Foundation Inc., announced today that the Amerks raised over $60,000 during the 2008-09 American Hockey League season. The total was part of $2.38 million that was raised over the course of the season by the AHL and its 29 member clubs for donation to various charitable causes and relief funds across North America.

The Amerks supported local charities such as the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the American Cancer Society, Wilmot Cancer Center, the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester, the Salvation Army, CURE Childhood Cancer Association, Foodlink, the Rochester Press-Radio Club Children's Charities Fund Inc. and Big Brothers Big Sisters. The Amerks also donated over $5,000 to injured Rochester Police Officer Anthony DiPonzio. DiPonzio was injured in the line of duty on January 31, 2009 and has since shown remarkable progress during his recovery.

The biggest fundraising venture of the year, however, was the 19th Annual Celebrity Waiter Dinner & Auction. The event, which was held on February 25th at The Blue Cross Arena at the Rochester War Memorial, brought in almost $45,000 for the local Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. This year the Rochester Knighthawks players assisted the Amerks in collecting tips for CF. Over the past 19 years, the event has raised nearly $700,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Rochester.

The Amerks players, coaches, mascots, staff and dance team also donated their time as they participated in over 250 events/appearances this season. In the AHL this past season, teams gave back to their local communities through numerous activities, including nearly 2,000 visits by players and coaches to schools, hospitals, libraries and other locations and nearly 3,000 more mascot appearances. More than 200,000 game tickets were donated to local charitable groups, and items such as food, coats, Christmas gifts and hockey equipment were collected at various drives organized by AHL clubs.

Charities in all AHL cities were the beneficiaries of a generous donation of game tickets by Reebok-CCM, the Premier Equipment Supplier of the AHL. In Rochester alone, the Amerks donated 6,955 game tickets to local charities and non-profit agencies, including some courtesy of Reebok-CCM.

In operation since 1936, the AHL continues to serve as the top development league for all 30 National Hockey League teams. More than 84 percent of today's NHL players are American Hockey League graduates, and the 2008-09 season marks the eighth consecutive year in which more than 6 million fans have attended AHL games across North America.

For further information, please contact the Amerks Communications Office at (585) 454-5335 ext. 3025.

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