Phantoms Partner with Mario Lemieux Foundation for Jersey Night
December 17, 2008 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
YOUNGSTOWN, OH (Wednesday, December 17th, 2008) - The Mahoning Valley Phantoms are proud to announce that the team will be partnering with the Mario Lemieux Foundation to host a night to benefit the fight against cancer at the Chevrolet Centre.
Following the Phantoms' January 10th game against the Motor City Machine, the team will auction off the special Mario Lemieux Foundation jerseys that they will wear that night against the Machine, with the proceeds going to the Foundation.
Phantoms President Bruce J. Zoldan says that the team is thrilled to team up with the Mario Lemieux Foundation for the event.
"It is a great honor to host the Mario Lemieux Foundation Night at the Phantoms game at the Chevrolet Centre," says Zoldan. "It is such an important cause and to have one of the all-time great hockey players associated with it is a great honor for the Phantoms organization."
This is the first time that the Phantoms have partnered with the Foundation, formed in 1993 by Mario Lemieux of the Pittsburgh Penguins who had his '93-'94 NHL season cut short when he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease.
After a successful battle with Hodgkin's, the eventual NHL Hall of Famer was cancer free but his experience led him to focus on ways to assist those who were not so fortunate.
The main objective of the Mario Lemieux Foundation is to fund promising medical research projects being conducted by talented scientists.
Among the donations made by the Foundation was a five million dollar gift to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center to establish the Mario Lemieux Centers for Patient Care and Research in 2001 and a two million dollar gift to the Children's Home of Pittsburgh in 2005.
Mario Lemieux Foundation spokesman Andrew Parish says the jersey auction is an exciting new fundraising avenue for the Foundation.
"The Mario Lemieux Foundation is thrilled to be the recipient of the Mahoning Valley Phantoms' Uniform Night Fundraiser," says Parish. "The jersey auction is truly going to be a unique event for the Foundation, and the winning bidders are each going to walk away with a really unique item.
"Mario is happy to partner with an organization like the Phantoms who work to further the sport of hockey in the United States, while at the same time work to give back the community."
Fans will be able to make early bids on the special Mario Lemieux Foundation jerseys at MVPPhantoms.com starting January 3rd. The live jersey auction will take place following the Phantoms' January 10th contest against Motor City at the Chevrolet Centre.
Fans can find out more information on the Mario Lemieux Foundation by visiting MarioLemieux.org on the internet.
Phantoms season tickets and individual tickets are now on sale at the Phantom Box Office at the Ice Zone in Boardman. Call (330) 965-7500 for more information.
North American Hockey League Stories from December 17, 2008
- Mike Matkovich Named U.S. U-18 Men's National Team Head Coach - U.S. National Team
- Motor City Lends a Helping Hand in Community - Motor City Metal Jackets
- Phantoms Partner with Mario Lemieux Foundation for Jersey Night - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Rangers Continue Road Swing - Marquette Rangers
- Rangers Pietila Headed to MTU - Marquette Rangers
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