"We'd like to thank the National Hockey League for awarding The Skills Center with a Diversity and Inclusion Grant today," Lightning vice president of community hockey development Jay Feaster said. "The additional funds will allow for these kids to experience the great game of hockey, while also making it possible for the facility to implement the Future Goals-Hockey Scholar program. We look forward to using hockey to aid in the development of the children at The Skills Center."
The purpose of the grant is to expose elementary and middle school students to hockey through learning to play street hockey. The grant will be used to purchase divider bumper pads to convert the facility's outdoor basketball courts into a street hockey rink. In addition, students will be engaged in the "Future Goals-Hockey Scholar" program with the purchase of three new iPads.
Today, 50 students from The Skills Center attended the check presentation and experienced the NHL's Centennial Fan Arena. They also received a brief hands-on tutorial on the Future Goals-Hockey Scholar program. The Lightning provided special t-shirts to be worn by all students from The Skills Center.
The mission of The Skills Center is to intentionally utilize athletics as the mechanism to create change through academic success, life skills and mentoring for young people ages 3-18 in Tampa Bay. The Skills Center provides school-based and community-based programs that motivate youth to learn, change behavior and succeed in school. Focusing on developing core competencies through academic instruction and character education, the organization's prevention services promote positive youth development to all youth, especially at-risk and disadvantaged elementary, middle and high school students through school day, after school and summer programs; leagues, travel teams and camps/clinics.
