05-31-2020, 11:53 PM
Greetings kind folks of the SHL and SMJHL. Today, the Detroit Falcons and I come to you with an idea.
Given recent events across the United States, and frankly the world as a whole, we wanted to ride the wave of kindness that's been pouring in for some amazing protest support and community safety funds. What's unfolding right now shows us that there's a large contingent of marginalized people who rightfully do not feel safe or secure in their communities. There's all kinds of protesting, organizing, and community development that needs to be done to help things move in the right direction. I think we can all agree that everyone deserves to be loved, respected, and treated fairly regardless of who you are or what you look like. The hockey community has always been generous with the causes it takes up, so I thought the simulated hockey community could be the same.
The Minnesota Freedom Fund was the main organization being passed around for the last few days, but due to a huge influx of donations, they've provided a list of other groups doing excellent work that could use our support. The Falcons chose to donate to Reclaim the Block, a grassroots organization that works with Minneapolis community and city council members to try and move money from the police department to other areas of the city’s budget that promote community health and safety. They have a lot of good information on their site, but maybe there's another organization your team would rather give to! Given that protests have started in many states and in many countries, perhaps there's something more local to you or your team that you'd like to get involved with. It's up to you guys. The Minnesota Freedom Fund linked above has a few suggestions on their homepage, but there are many others.
I'm more than aware that this is already a tough time for everyone. I have lost almost all of my work during quarantine, but I wanted to get involved how I could. Which is why I had the idea of reaching out to my team and seeing what would happen if we all chipped in a bit. I thought it might be a good way to amplify the small amount I could give, if some generous teammates matched me. Turns out I was right, as my small donation turned into over $150 raised as a team for Reclaim the Block.
Which got me thinking, why not try going a step further? If my small donation could grow to more than $150 with my team's help, maybe my team's generosity could be matched or amplified further by other teams in the SHL community. No matter what cause you and your team want to take up, in whatever city or state or country, I think now is a great time for our community to get involved in doing some good in the world. This whole thing is honour system-- I'm not going to jump on your back looking for donation receipts or anything. If you or your team got involved and donated some money somewhere, let me know how much and for what cause so I can add it to the total below.
Thanks for your time, SHL. Be safe, love each other, and hopefully we can do a bit of good!
Team Contributions:
Detroit Falcons ($697 - Reclaim the Block, Canadian Black Youth Hotline, George Floyd Memorial, Bail Project, Humble Bundle Split, The Okra Project)
Carolina Kraken ($356 - Black Lives Matter Global, Equal Justice Initiative)
Maine Timber ($25 - Columbus Freedom Fund)
Hamilton Steelhawks ($600 - Black Lives Matter Global, Reclaim the Block, Northstar Health Collective, Minnesota Freedom Fund, The Okra Project)
Vancouver Whalers ($548 - Minnesota Freedom Fund, Reclaim the Block, Bail Funds, LGBTQ Freedom Fund, Equal Justice Initiative)
Manhattan Rage ($35 - Local Businesses, Black Lives Matter Global)
Newfoundland Berserkers ($1034 - Bail Funds, Black Lives Matter Global, Black Visions Collective, Black Lives Matter NS)
Edmonton Blizzard ($254.67 - Black Lives Matter Global, Reclaim the Block, Minnesota Freedom Fund)
New England Wolfpack ($286 - Black Lives Matter Global, Minnesota Freedom Fund, Lake Street Council, The Bail Project, Equal Justice Initiative)
Buffalo Stampede ($659.25 - Black Visions Collective, Columbus Freedom Fund, Northstar Health Collective, Bail Funds, Innocence Project, Lake Street Council, Equal Justice Initiative)
Texas Renegades ($56 - Bail Funds, Black Lives Matter Global)
Chicago Syndicate ($107 - Bail Funds, Black Visions Collective)
New Orleans Specters ($211 - My Block My Hood My City, Bail Funds, Black Lives Matter Global)
Winnipeg Jets ($1250 - Black Lives Matter Seattle, Multi-Organizational Split)
San Francisco Pride ($145 - North Star Health Collective, Campaign Zero, ACLU, Bail Funds, The Bail Project)
Minnesota Chiefs ($63 - Multi-Organizational Split)
Los Angeles Panthers ($70 - Black Lives Matter Global, Northstar Health Collective, Lake Street Council)
Colorado Raptors ($208 - NAACP Legal Defense Fund)
St. Louis Scarecrows ($556 - Southern Poverty Law Centre, Black Lives Matter Global, Unite Oregon, The Urban League of Portland)
Kelowna Knights ($20 - Northstar Health Collective, Lake Street Council)
Baltimore Platoon ($10 - Black Lives Matter Global)
Toronto North Stars ($50 - Humble Bundle Split, Black Lives Matter Global)
Total Raised by the SHL Community: $7240
Given recent events across the United States, and frankly the world as a whole, we wanted to ride the wave of kindness that's been pouring in for some amazing protest support and community safety funds. What's unfolding right now shows us that there's a large contingent of marginalized people who rightfully do not feel safe or secure in their communities. There's all kinds of protesting, organizing, and community development that needs to be done to help things move in the right direction. I think we can all agree that everyone deserves to be loved, respected, and treated fairly regardless of who you are or what you look like. The hockey community has always been generous with the causes it takes up, so I thought the simulated hockey community could be the same.
The Minnesota Freedom Fund was the main organization being passed around for the last few days, but due to a huge influx of donations, they've provided a list of other groups doing excellent work that could use our support. The Falcons chose to donate to Reclaim the Block, a grassroots organization that works with Minneapolis community and city council members to try and move money from the police department to other areas of the city’s budget that promote community health and safety. They have a lot of good information on their site, but maybe there's another organization your team would rather give to! Given that protests have started in many states and in many countries, perhaps there's something more local to you or your team that you'd like to get involved with. It's up to you guys. The Minnesota Freedom Fund linked above has a few suggestions on their homepage, but there are many others.
I'm more than aware that this is already a tough time for everyone. I have lost almost all of my work during quarantine, but I wanted to get involved how I could. Which is why I had the idea of reaching out to my team and seeing what would happen if we all chipped in a bit. I thought it might be a good way to amplify the small amount I could give, if some generous teammates matched me. Turns out I was right, as my small donation turned into over $150 raised as a team for Reclaim the Block.
Which got me thinking, why not try going a step further? If my small donation could grow to more than $150 with my team's help, maybe my team's generosity could be matched or amplified further by other teams in the SHL community. No matter what cause you and your team want to take up, in whatever city or state or country, I think now is a great time for our community to get involved in doing some good in the world. This whole thing is honour system-- I'm not going to jump on your back looking for donation receipts or anything. If you or your team got involved and donated some money somewhere, let me know how much and for what cause so I can add it to the total below.
Thanks for your time, SHL. Be safe, love each other, and hopefully we can do a bit of good!
Team Contributions:
Detroit Falcons ($697 - Reclaim the Block, Canadian Black Youth Hotline, George Floyd Memorial, Bail Project, Humble Bundle Split, The Okra Project)
Carolina Kraken ($356 - Black Lives Matter Global, Equal Justice Initiative)
Maine Timber ($25 - Columbus Freedom Fund)
Hamilton Steelhawks ($600 - Black Lives Matter Global, Reclaim the Block, Northstar Health Collective, Minnesota Freedom Fund, The Okra Project)
Vancouver Whalers ($548 - Minnesota Freedom Fund, Reclaim the Block, Bail Funds, LGBTQ Freedom Fund, Equal Justice Initiative)
Manhattan Rage ($35 - Local Businesses, Black Lives Matter Global)
Newfoundland Berserkers ($1034 - Bail Funds, Black Lives Matter Global, Black Visions Collective, Black Lives Matter NS)
Edmonton Blizzard ($254.67 - Black Lives Matter Global, Reclaim the Block, Minnesota Freedom Fund)
New England Wolfpack ($286 - Black Lives Matter Global, Minnesota Freedom Fund, Lake Street Council, The Bail Project, Equal Justice Initiative)
Buffalo Stampede ($659.25 - Black Visions Collective, Columbus Freedom Fund, Northstar Health Collective, Bail Funds, Innocence Project, Lake Street Council, Equal Justice Initiative)
Texas Renegades ($56 - Bail Funds, Black Lives Matter Global)
Chicago Syndicate ($107 - Bail Funds, Black Visions Collective)
New Orleans Specters ($211 - My Block My Hood My City, Bail Funds, Black Lives Matter Global)
Winnipeg Jets ($1250 - Black Lives Matter Seattle, Multi-Organizational Split)
San Francisco Pride ($145 - North Star Health Collective, Campaign Zero, ACLU, Bail Funds, The Bail Project)
Minnesota Chiefs ($63 - Multi-Organizational Split)
Los Angeles Panthers ($70 - Black Lives Matter Global, Northstar Health Collective, Lake Street Council)
Colorado Raptors ($208 - NAACP Legal Defense Fund)
St. Louis Scarecrows ($556 - Southern Poverty Law Centre, Black Lives Matter Global, Unite Oregon, The Urban League of Portland)
Kelowna Knights ($20 - Northstar Health Collective, Lake Street Council)
Baltimore Platoon ($10 - Black Lives Matter Global)
Toronto North Stars ($50 - Humble Bundle Split, Black Lives Matter Global)
Total Raised by the SHL Community: $7240