The Air Canada Foundation aims to help improve children’s health and well-being by supporting Canadian registered charities who focus on health and wellness, work against poverty, and create unique experiences that drive hope for children and families facing adversities.
Generally, when you think of a partnership between a large company like Air Canada and a small (but mighty) charity like HEROS, you tend to believe the support they provide is strictly financial – providing funds for critical resources like ice-time or equipment. With Air Canada and the Air Canada Foundation, it’s so much more than that.
Since 2018, the Air Canada Foundation has supported HEROS’ fundraising efforts, flown players and coaches to multiple Willie O’Ree All-Star Weekends, helped bring equipment to HEROS players in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and awarded seventeen players and one coach Air Canada Fan Flight experiences – including six players this season!
Through these opportunities, the Air Canada Foundation is helping to build something so much bigger than hockey. For many HEROS players, just leaving their community for a couple of days comes with a variety of barriers, so the idea of travelling somewhere like Nashville, Las Vegas, or Tampa Bay to watch their favourite team play, or participate in a camp with NHL players in Boston or Anaheim, has quite simply never crossed their minds.
With the support of the Air Canada Foundation, HEROS players can develop a new perspective of the world, are encouraged to dream big, and are rewarded for their hard work at HEROS with unforgettable experiences.
Alison Sharp, Manager of Community Impact Programs at the Air Canada Foundation has been one of the many voices supporting HEROS throughout our partnership and knows just how important the sense of belonging created by sport is to our young people.
“We know that through great coaches and mentorship, being a part of team, and building relationships children build such important life skills. In fact, even outside of my role supporting the health and wellbeing of children and youth across Canada, I’ve seen it firsthand as a hockey-mom to my daughter.” said Alison.
Working with the Air Canada Foundation, Alison has been granted a unique perspective on the importance of working together to ensure that young people in our communities get the support they need to find success.
“At the Air Canada Foundation, we’re committed to supporting future generations and working with communities to invest in our youth and create meaningful opportunities that benefit their well-being and development”, said Alison. “The children you (HEROS) are working with are eager to learn. HEROS not only helps break down barriers to the sport of hockey but also helps kids to develop their leadership capabilities and other valuable life skills that will take them wherever they want to go.”
We can’t say how grateful we are for the continued support of Air Canada and the Air Canada Foundation. Alison and the team truly understand what it means to be a hero for a HERO and have provided so many deserving young hockey players with opportunities they never thought possible.
The Air Canada Foundation and Air Canada have truly exemplified what the term “partnership” means, constantly finding new ways to empower players from HEROS programs across Canada and in Belfast, Northern Ireland, inspiring us at HEROS to look for new ways we can work with our friends and neighbours, to better serve the young people in our communities.
If you or your business would like to learn more about all the creative ways you can partner with HEROS locally, nationally, or internationally reach out to us at info@heroshockey.com!