• Scoring Goals for the Community is hosting its third annual Stouffville charity hockey game this weekend.
  • The event is fundraising for 360ºkids, a not-for-profit providing programming and supportive services to over 3,500 at-risk youths across York Region.
  • Volunteer players have created two teams ready to compete: Team 360°kids and Team Scoring Goals.
  • A $15,000 fundraising goal has been set, with $6,821 already raised at the time of publishing this article.
  • The game will take place at 7:30 p.m. at the Clippers Arena on Saturday, March 23.
  • Tickets are priced at just $5 and are available for purchase online and at the game. All ticket proceeds will contribute to the 360ºkids fundraising goal.
  • Residents can also support the fundraising campaign by donating to Scoring Goals for the Community mascot Ollie’s campaign page.

 

Stouffville resident and Scoring Goals for the Community founder Sam Daskalopoulos initiated the organization’s charity hockey games in 2017. They now host contests in municipalities across York and Durham Regions and have raised over $87,000 to date for local non-profits.

Last year’s Scoring Goals for the Community game raised money for the Whitchurch Stouffville Food Bank, and their 2022 Stouffville game supported ABLE Network (Access to Better Living and Employment).

This year, 360ºkids was selected. Their history of service in York Region spans more than 33 years, and the organization’s work helps young people with emergency and transitional housing, as well as health, well-being, employment, and educational programming and supports.

“360ºkids was recommended to me by a friend who felt it was an invaluable organization but severely underfunded,” Daskalopoulos told Bullet Point News. “I had the opportunity to take a tour of their facility recently and saw the amazing work they do with at-risk youth. They are helping to battle youth homelessness and address mental health issues, and I knew we made the right choice.”

Each game requires volunteer players to register and operate their own fundraising pages. They then raise money to help meet the game’s target, competing with each other to see who can raise the most. Even Ollie, Scoring Goals for the Community’s mascot and subject of Daskalopoulos’ recent children’s book, has his own fundraising page. Local residents who may not know any of the players can still support 360ºkids and participate in the event by donating to Ollie’s campaign.

Representatives from 360ºkids, Mayor Lovatt, and others are set to participate in the ceremonial puck drop. Game-day fundraising activities will include a chuck-a-puck competition and a silent auction filled with great prizes. Intermission shoot-outs are also planned, Ollie will be in attendance, and families can look forward to a variety of kid-friendly activities.

“We want to do something impactful for these charities,” Daskalopoulos explained. “We try to keep the game as fun as possible, and it’s all for a great cause.”