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By Chris Kober
The Reign honored the American Red Cross by wearing specially designed jerseys that were auctioned off at the end of the night, with all of the proceeds benefiting its Inland Empire Chapter. “Really, the jersey night gives us the opportunity . . . to recognize our top fundraisers.” said Yevette Ramos, COO of the American Red Cross’s Inland Empire Chapter, “it’s not your traditional, go to a dinner and have another chicken dinner way of recognizing our volunteers, our sponsors and the people who support us.” The volunteers that the Red Cross recognized at the game were all part of the chapter’s Hope 3 Challenge, which consists of raffle ticket sales, corporate sponsorship and a coin collecting program at elementary schools. Ramos worked with the Reign’s season ticket designer to create MVP jerseys for each individual fundraiser who raised over $400 as well as the player jerseys. “[The idea for the game-worn jersey design] was an epiphany in the shower.” She said, “I thought, our chapter responds to so many fires we should have ghost flames going up our jersey . . . so it truly represents what we do.” Naomi Shapiro, who volunteers with the Red Cross in both their disaster action team and with their mental health initiatives, was named the chapter’s top seller and given her choice of the players’ game-worn jerseys. She and her husband have been Reign season ticket holders since before the arena was built and are members of the team’s booster club. Her selection of defenseman Mike Egner’s jersey was a simple one. “We’re his booster buddy for the booster club, and we support him and follow him through the season.” she said excitedly as the rest of the players’ jerseys were being auctioned off for between one and four thousand dollars. The Hope 3 Challenge volunteers had raised over $60,000 before the jersey auction and 50/50 raffle during the game which was expected to put the total over $100,000. The Inland Empire Chapter has also raised over $100,000 for the American International Red Cross’s Haitian relief efforts from individual donors in addition to a $1.5 million donation from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. The jersey night event was planned in October and Ramos was quick to point out that while the Inland Empire Chapter is raising money for Haitian Relief, all of the funds raised during the game will go toward the chapter’s local efforts and programs. Ramos, a Kings season ticket holder, said that one of the most rewarding parts of the whole event was to bring volunteers, staffers and corporate sponsors out who had never been to a hockey game before. “I could not be more excited about the partnership and bringing people here that may never have experienced it and we get to raise money for a great cause," said Ramos. "It beats a chicken dinner,” she added. |
 
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2010 WESTERN HOCKEY NETWORK |
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Charity
takes over as Reign support American Red Cross
February
1, 2010 -- ONTARIO, CA -- Saturday night was Red Cross night for the Ontario
Reign as they took on the Alaska Aces. After losing a shootout to the Aces
Friday night Ontario got some retribution in a 5-2 win that was full of
acrimony, but after the game, good will and charity took over. 
