ROAD WARRIORS ANNOUNCE INAUGURAL SEASON CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS
GREENVILLE, SC – The Greenville Road Warriors announced today, at a press conference at the BI-LO Center, that they raised $26,644 worth of charitable contributions during their inaugural season. That includes donations of cash and goods.
“A key focus of the Road Warriors is to be a strong supporter of the community that we represent. It was with this in mind that we put our efforts into creating special events around our home games to raise awareness and money for very worthy causes. Our ‘Pink in the Rink,’ ‘Stop Polio Cold,’ and ‘Teddy Bear Toss‘ games accomplished those goals,” said Road Warriors president and general manager Neil Smith.
On December 17, 2010 the Road Warriors held their inaugural Teddy Bear Toss with all of the donated stuffed animals going to WSSL-FM‘s annual Toys for Tots drive. When Mark Voakes scored his penalty shot goal in overtime that broke a 0-0 tie, 1,142 toys were tossed by the 4,589 fans in attendance. The Road Warriors delivered two pickup trucks full of stuffed animals to Sitton Buick for the “Stuff the Truck” party to wrap up WSSL’s Toys for Tots drive.
Pink was the ‘in’ color on January 21, 2011 as the Road Warriors partnered with the Mary Kay Foundation for their first “Pink in the Rink” game against the South Carolina Stingrays. While the Road Warriors were unable to skate away with the victory on the ice, the off-ice support of the Road Warriors’ fans made the night a success. An announced crowd of 5,007 helped raise money for the fight against breast cancer by buying tickets through the Mary Kay Foundation and placing bids in the silent auction of the Pink in the Rink jerseys and sticks. The night’s efforts raised $4,879 for the Mary Kay Foundation.
The Road Warriors partnered with the Rotary Club of Greenville to become “Rotary Warriors” on February 18, 2011 for their “Stop Polio Cold” game. The focus of the night was to raise money, and awareness, towards Rotary’s “End Polio Now” campaign which aims to eradicate polio across the globe. Through the sale of game tickets, commemorative pucks, the live auction of the red and gold Stop Polio Cold jerseys, and $2,000 in contributions from local businesses the Road Warriors and Rotary Club of Greenville were able to raise $8,064. That effort, and the Road Warriors’ 3-1 win, was cause for much celebrating by the 5,624 in attendance that night.
Throughout the season there were many other donations, including season tickets, single-game tickets, and merchandise, made to area charities and initiatives. Groups, like the Greenville Junior Road Warriors hockey organization, were also able to raise funds by selling tickets to Road Warriors home games and working the chuck-a-puck table on game nights. The Road Warriors also donated funds raised by their Wheeling car smash at the playoff block parties to Special Olympics Greenville.
Organizations that would like to partner with the Road Warriors in the 2011-12 season should contact Director of Community Relations Geoff Cheek by calling 864-250-4765 or emailing geoff.cheek@greenvilleroadwarriors.com.
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