Preds, 102.5 The Game Give Back, Celebrate 615 Day in Nashville

Ford Ice Center Bellevue's parking lot was overflowing like usual on Tuesday, but Gold Predators tents housing activities for an entire community aren't usually part of the makeup.
June 15, however - 615 Day in Nashville - is a special occasion, and the Preds, along with their flagship radio partner, 102.5 The Game, put on quite a show for a great cause.
The annual 615 Day, an occasion that pairs Music City's area code with the date of June 15, is celebrated throughout the city, but the most impressive party was in Bellevue all day long. After a year-plus without the ability to host an event for the masses, a wide variety of activities and activations for fans of all ages were at the forefront, as well lunch courtesy of Hunt Brothers Pizza.
Most importantly, all proceeds raised from the day
directly benefit Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee
, which provides kids and teens a safe place to develop essential skills, make lasting connections and have fun.

"The Preds and Cromwell Media with 102.5 The Game have been incredible partners for us for a really long time," Senior Director of Resource Development at Boys and Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee Joslyn Jackson said. "We know that they are leaders in the community, and it's really amazing to have this partnership financially, of course. Keeping our doors open for 10,000 youth by 2026, that is our big goal, and community partners like the Preds and 102.5 The Game, they make it happen."
Participants from Boys and Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee were also on hand to enjoy lunch and take to the ice for some skating - many of them for the first time - just another unique experience offered by the program thanks to the support of the Preds and 102.5 The Game.

"Today has been phenomenal," 102.5 The Game Program Director Ryan Porth said. "When we first thought of this idea, we thought, 'How can we give back to Nashville? How can we do something that could be meaningful to an organization or a group of people?' The Boys and Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee are a fantastic partner of ours at Cromwell Media and with the Preds as well. We couldn't have picked a better organization to team up with and help them be able to accomplish all the goals that they want to accomplish, not only in the present, but in the future."
Those goals continue to come to fruition, and when children can get out of their neighborhood and experience something new, Jackson says, their potential is limitless.
"With the pandemic where you've just been home, having this opportunity to come out, it's safe and you get to do something fun with your friends again," Jackson said. "It's amazing. It makes you feel like life is going back to normal, and it makes you feel like everyone here in Nashville from the Preds and 102.5 The Game and everybody that's come out here today really cares about these kids having a great time and having a great future."
The Nashville Predators Foundation empowered by SmileDirectClub has also been facilitating a silent auction to celebrate the day featuring exciting sports merchandise and signed Predators apparel, and 100 percent of the proceeds will go directly to the charity, which was jointly selected by the Predators and 102.5 The Game.
Combine those efforts with the in-person events at Ford Ice Center Bellevue on Tuesday, and one of the more successful celebrations in recent memory delivered more than just free pizza and a chance to get out of the house.
"Seeing the smiles on the kids' faces is the best," Porth said. "They probably haven't had many reasons to smile in the last year-plus because of staying home for school for so much time, so to see the kids with smiles on their faces is so gratifying."