Dreams on and off the ice

Dreams for Kids recently announced a partnership with the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks that will have the franchise support the locally-based non-profit expand its efforts across North America. It may serve as a model for other partnerships and how to scale them.

From PRWeb, you can find the full press release at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/09/prweb2903654.htm, with an excerpt below.

(Excerpt)

Chicago Blackhawks Announce Historic Partnership with Dreams for Kids

(PRWEB) September 19, 2009 — Raising the bar for all sports franchises, the Chicago Blackhawks have created a North American partnership with Dreams for Kids, an international youth organization founded in Chicago, Illinois, in 1989.

Providing a foundation of support to expand youth programming in all NHL cities and beyond, the Blackhawks have created opportunities for the most isolated kids in the world.

“This historic partnership will bring a generation of kids from the sidelines and empower them to live the life they have imagined.” said Tom Tuohy, President and Founder of Dreams for Kids.

Dreams for Kids empowers youth with disabilities and those who live in poverty. In every community they are given opportunities to make a difference. It empowers them, it changes their families and it transforms their communities. Unprecedented among sports franchises, the Chicago Blackhawks have gone beyond the borders of their own city and extended support for youth that live in cities across North America.

1 billion kids live in poverty. 1 in 10 kids today has a disability. This is 60% of the whole population of the world. 1 billion kids have not even been in the conversation – until now. With this historic partnership they will have a voice, be united to their peers, and to service projects at home and around the world.

Through Extreme Recess, an adaptive sports program for kids with physical and developmental disabilities the opportunity is given to participate in sports and recreational activities, often for the very first time.

(The release continues at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/09/prweb2903654.htm)