From BE BETTER FOUNDATION
The Warthogs, the Local Fraternal Order of Police 109 charity hockey team, will take on the Detroit-based The Duster Line hockey team Friday, Oct. 3 at 8:30 p.m. in the Slater Family Ice Arena.
The charity hockey game will benefit the local youth involved in the Be Better Foundation’s mentorship program. Entrance into the game is by donation. There will also be 50/50 raffles and a silent auction throughout the evening.
“We’re not selling tickets, but instead the public can donate at the door,” said Tony Lake, one of the organization’s founders and board members. “We’ll have a lot of silent auction items available for people to bid on, such as hockey gear and golf at the BG Country Club.” The silent auction will continue through the end of the third period and the high bidders do not need to be present to win.
Proceeds will be used to develop guided materials for the mentors and direct aid for items such as school supplies and camp fees to the elementary-aged students. The foundation recently sponsored backpacks and all necessary, classroom-specific school supplies for every child in the program.
The foundation is also working to expand the program to other Bowling Green elementary schools beyond the pilot site at Conneaut Elementary School, according to Lake.
The program’s goal is to help reshape some of the youth and provide opportunities that they may not know are out there.
“We want to continue to nudge them in directions that are positive, encourage them, and give them confidence to do all the things that they want to do in life,” Lake said. “One day, these will be the future leaders, businesspeople and employees that stay in town and continue to serve Bowling Green.”
The foundation’s success, which is significantly driven by the passion of its volunteers, also has organic support from the community through donations and fundraising efforts.
The game against The Duster Line team marks the third annual I-75 Derby between the two teams, but the first time that the Be Better Foundation is the beneficiary.
The idea for the charity hockey game was suggested by Don Egan, a recently retired police officer who has become one of the newest Be Better mentors. Egan is also a member of the Warthogs charity hockey team, which is made up of first responders from the area who love to play hockey. They play other first responder teams from Ohio, Michigan and Indiana as fundraisers for various organizations, fallen law enforcement officers’ families and local nonprofit programs.
“This vital event is for both fundraising and community engagement for the Be Better Foundation,” Lake said. “It should be an exciting hockey game. We just wanted to spread the word and get some of the local fans out there. If they’re fans of hockey, fans of what we do, or just fans of Bowling Green in general, we invite everyone to come out to watch a fun exhibition game and support local youth.”
