Oilers Foundation gifts record $3.6 million to community initiatives

The Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation (EOCF) is proud to announce the strongest gifting year on record following an amazing 2016-17 season of activity for the Oilers Foundation, culminating in a total donation amount of $3.6 million to charities and minor hockey groups throughout Northern Alberta.
With a focus on philanthropic leadership in health and wellness, education and minor hockey for youth across Oil Country, the EOCF is dedicated to helping eradicate social issues while finding long-term solutions to build strong, vibrant and safe communities.

Thanks to the generosity of our valued hockey fans, Oilers players, the EOCF Board of Directors and Oilers Entertainment Group (OEG) employees, the Foundation is celebrating its record $3.6 million reinvestment in the community.
"In keeping with our commitment to building strong and safe communities with a focus on education and health and wellness, the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation has made its most significant contribution yet, with an outstanding reinvestment of $3.6 million back into programs to improve the quality of life for individuals, families and communities in Northern Alberta," said EOCF Executive Director Natalie Minckler. "We are incredibly proud to support this community and as always, our goal is to continue to make a positive impact."
The Oilers Foundation was fortunate to support many charitable organizations this season including, YMCA of Northern Alberta, Africa Centre, King's University scholarships, Right To Play's PLAY Program: Promoting Life-skills in Aboriginal Youth, Kingman Recreation Association's Rink of Dreams Project, Grande Prairie & District Catholic Schools Foundation, Young Alberta Book Society, Brain Tumour Foundation and Aspire Special Needs Resource Centre in Red Deer, to name a few.
While the EOCF touches all corners of Northern and Central Alberta, the Foundation is proud to support its downtown neighbour, the Bissell Centre, supporting its Child and Family Resources.
"Thank you to the Oilers Foundation for their generous support for families living in poverty who rely on Bissell Centre every day for assistance. Your gift will ensure that struggling families in our community will be able to meet their basic needs and their overall well-being is secure," said Bissell Centre Director of Resource Development Kelly Hoskins. "Additionally, the funding will provide even further support to the children and parents as we work to expand our Child and Family Resources program."
Other key fiscal milestones from this past year include the Oilers Foundation's $750,000 over a three-year commitment, $250,000 per year, to E4C. E4C is a non-profit organization that moves vulnerable people toward positive, healthy and lasting change. For more than 45 years, E4C has been working to provide nutrition support to hungry children during their school day. To achieve this, its School Snack program serves nearly 6,000 elementary children healthy snacks or breakfast in partnership with 26 Edmonton Public and Catholic Schools.
"We know students who have a healthy and nutritious diet have more energy and are able to better focus in class. I am so pleased to see the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation make a three-year commitment to providing snacks for these students and I believe this generous commitment will pair nicely with our government's recently announced school nutrition pilot program," said Alberta Minister of Education David Eggen.
With the Edmonton Oilers 2017 Stanley Cup Playoff run, the EOCF experienced significantly larger 50/50 pots. The Oilers Foundation identified the opportunity to reinvest a portion of the gaming funding received through the 50/50 program at Oilers home playoff games and Orange Crush Road Game Watch Parties powered by Rogers into Habitat for Humanity's 34th annual Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project with a $250,000 donation.
In addition to the funding for this pivotal project, the Oilers Foundation assembled a team of 125 volunteers for the building of two homes in the Laurel neighbourhood here in Edmonton with Oilers Entertainment Group (OEG) staff, EOCF Board Members, Oilers players and Oilers Alumni lending a hand to the project.
"The Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation is a true leader in our community," said Habitat for Humanity Edmonton President & CEO Alfred Nikolai. "Habitat is absolutely thrilled that they've stepped up to support local families through affordable homeownership. We are proud to have them as part of the 2017 Carter Work Project team."
As per their mandate, the EOCF will continue to reinvest funding to support the life-changing work being done in the community through various programming and partnerships in support of education, health and wellness and hockey programming for youth.
To learn more about the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation and its community initiatives, please visit OilersFoundation.ca.