Toronto Maple Leafs Host Autism Awareness Night
Click here for a photo gallery.
Click here for a photo gallery.
What do you get when you take the passion of Leafs fans and multiply that by the power of the largest hockey market in the NHL? One amazing night of autism awareness and fund raising for autism research in Canada.
On Thursday, March 12, Toronto took on the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Air Canada Centre for the first ever Toronto Maple Leafs Autism Awareness Night. Newly acquired Leaf and Athletes Against Autism co-founder Olie Kolzig was unfortunately not playing due to injury, but Leafs Winger Brad May – whose nephew,
On Thursday, March 12, Toronto took on the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Air Canada Centre for the first ever Toronto Maple Leafs Autism Awareness Night. Newly acquired Leaf and Athletes Against Autism co-founder Olie Kolzig was unfortunately not playing due to injury, but Leafs Winger Brad May – whose nephew,
The Jumbotron at the Air Canada Centre
Jackson, has autism – enthusiastically stepped in to help raise over $10,000 for Autism Speaks Canada.
Toronto's most popular morning radio show, Q107's Derringer in the Morning auctioned a pair of platinum level seats (donated by KRG Children's Charitable Foundation) along with a signed team stick (donated by Toronto Maple Leafs) and an autographed #10 “May Day” jersey. Suzanne Lanthier, executive director of Autism Speaks Canada, and Brad May were featured on-air guests when a lucky caller's winning bid of $1100 secured the prize package
Awareness was everywhere at the arena. Sportscasters from Rogers Sportsnet, Leafs TV, the Leafs Coaches and staff at the Air Canada Centre all sported Autism Speaks puzzle piece pins. The Autism Speaks signature logo appeared on the game's program and was gobo-spotted all over the ice in pre-game festivities. Larger-than-life banners, public service announcements and jumbo-tron reminders of the Ontario Walk and Autism Speaks websites played continuously throughout the game.
Volunteers from Salesforce.com, local service provider The Geneva Centre, the Calvin Barry Professional Corporation, and Ontario Walk Now for Autism volunteers collected close to $8000 in donations at the gate. Molson Canada presented a $1000 cheque to Autism Speaks Canada in honor of Jason Blake, February's Player of Month.
Special thanks to Autism Speaks Canada Board member Tom Maras for initiating this incredible night and for donating numerous pairs of platinum level seats. Thanks also to the Community Development staff of the Leafs organization for their support.
While the Leafs could not officially put the game in the win column, the Canadian autism community certainly was the big winner!
Toronto's most popular morning radio show, Q107's Derringer in the Morning auctioned a pair of platinum level seats (donated by KRG Children's Charitable Foundation) along with a signed team stick (donated by Toronto Maple Leafs) and an autographed #10 “May Day” jersey. Suzanne Lanthier, executive director of Autism Speaks Canada, and Brad May were featured on-air guests when a lucky caller's winning bid of $1100 secured the prize package
Awareness was everywhere at the arena. Sportscasters from Rogers Sportsnet, Leafs TV, the Leafs Coaches and staff at the Air Canada Centre all sported Autism Speaks puzzle piece pins. The Autism Speaks signature logo appeared on the game's program and was gobo-spotted all over the ice in pre-game festivities. Larger-than-life banners, public service announcements and jumbo-tron reminders of the Ontario Walk and Autism Speaks websites played continuously throughout the game.
Volunteers from Salesforce.com, local service provider The Geneva Centre, the Calvin Barry Professional Corporation, and Ontario Walk Now for Autism volunteers collected close to $8000 in donations at the gate. Molson Canada presented a $1000 cheque to Autism Speaks Canada in honor of Jason Blake, February's Player of Month.
Special thanks to Autism Speaks Canada Board member Tom Maras for initiating this incredible night and for donating numerous pairs of platinum level seats. Thanks also to the Community Development staff of the Leafs organization for their support.
While the Leafs could not officially put the game in the win column, the Canadian autism community certainly was the big winner!
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