NHL Seattle donates $1 million to coronavirus relief

NHL Seattle and Oak View Group donated $1 million on Tuesday to aid those affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

Of the $1 million donation, $800,000 will go to the United Way of King County's Community Relief Fund to support the Office of Sustainability and Environment's (OSE) expanded grocery voucher program, which will provide 1,000 workers impacted by coronavirus with $800 vouchers that can immediately be used at any Washington state Safeway store to purchase food and household goods. The city will continue to raise funds with the goal of providing an additional 1,000 recently displaced workers with the grocery vouchers.

"These grocery vouchers will be critical to helping working families put food on the table," Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan said. "I'm deeply grateful to our partners at OVG and NHL Seattle for their efforts to support families and non-profits in Seattle."

The other $200,000 will provide grants to 21 Seattle Center Arts and nonprofit organizations including the Seattle Opera, Children's Museum, Pacific Science Center and International Film Festival.

"Our dreams for an NHL team and a new arena in Seattle were born out of a strong collaboration and partnership with the city to create something powerful and lasting for our community," said Tod Leiweke, CEO of NHL Seattle. "In that spirit, we are committed to giving back and supporting those families with an urgent and immediate need and our nonprofit neighbors at the Seattle Center who need a lift. We know better days are ahead, but we want to help bridge the gap during this time of uncertainty."

Mayor Durkan said, "Our city has been working on many new initiatives as it relates to rental assistance, meals, and support for artists and small businesses, but we know it is not enough for those who are struggling. For the tens of millions of families struggling right now, we need Congress to provide urgent relief for housing, food, and workers"

NHL Seattle, which became the League's 32nd team Dec. 4, 2018, is scheduled to begin play in the 2021-22 season.

Oak View Group is overseeing construction of the New Arena at Seattle Center, which is scheduled to open sometime in the summer of 2021.