CBJ public address announcer using his skills to raise money

Sports certainly aren't the most important thing in life, but it's also fair to say something is missing in life without them at the moment.

Sure, it's just entertainment, but for many, it's an escape, a chance to feel like a part of a community and a reason to come together in times both good and bad.

And when the NHL went on pause because of the coronavirus in mid-March, that in-person bond was severed quickly, but many members of the Blue Jackets community are doing their best to keep it going.

On that list is Nationwide Arena public address announcer Greg Murray, the voice who introduces Leo Welsh before each national anthem, who lets you know the Jackets are on the power play and who reveals the three stars after each CBJ win.

But with the pause silencing that voice inside the arena, Murray was looking for a way to stay connected. Inspired by some other PA announcers across the league, he has started to record videos through the website Cameo in which he is recording messages for fans with his unmistakable style.

Even better -- all proceeds from the videos are being donated to the Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation.

"We were very unceremoniously and very quickly cut off from each other a couple of weeks ago, and it's just like, man, there's something missing," Murray said. "I thought, what a great way to connect with fans when we can't really connect, so I started a Cameo page and talked with Katie Matney, (executive director) with the Blue Jackets foundation, and said, 'Hey, let's raise some money doing this and have some fun in the process.' We've really had a good reaction to it."

How good? Murray hopes to raise $2,500 for the foundation, which would mean filming 100 videos at $25 apiece. So far, he's about two-thirds of the way to his goal, already bringing in more than $1,500 for the cause.

"I set a goal of 100 of these, and if I can get more than 100 I would happily do it and raise that much more for the Blue Jackets Foundation," Murray said. "I'm looking to do as many of these as I can."

The Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation is dedicated to the health and wellness of children in central Ohio, dedicating time, resources and financial support to organizations making a difference in the areas of pediatric cancer, reading, fitness through play and the growth and development of amateur hockey.

The foundation has provided more than $11.4 million to our community since the team's inception in 2000, in part because of the dedication and creativity of people like Murray.

"By donating his time to put smiles on people's faces while benefitting the Foundation, Greg is setting an example of how we all can use our skill set to make this time a little easier for everyone," Matney said.

So far, the reactions to Murray's videos have in many cases been priceless, especially when Murray is fulfilling a request for a youngster to make it sound as though he or she has scored in Nationwide Arena.

"The best part is seeing the kids that are just excited," he said. "They're so awesome. It's so much fun to get that feedback. The fact that people are willing to have me do this and think that much of me to make a donation and support the foundation and have their kids be a rock star is awesome."

When Murray gets each request, he heads to his camera, slips on his custom Blue Jackets jersey and is ready to go. He tries to make each request as specific as possible given the info given to him by the person making the request, and he's summed up goals and fights, delivered custom messages to school classrooms and even announced penalties for a husband and wife stuck in quarantine. (The one thing he hasn't done? A gender reveal.)

The sheer volume and creativity of requests so far to Murray shows just how strong and engaged the Blue Jackets fan base is as it rides out the coronavirus pandemic.

"You know the fan base in Columbus doesn't get nearly the credit that it deserves for how much they support this team," Murray said. "You look at consistently in our building during the playoffs, you never hear anybody go, 'Wow, their fan base isn't engaged.' It's like, 'Wow, they blew out the speakers. Wow, you can't hear yourself think over these Columbus fans.'

"The fans in this city they are the best fans that you could ever ask for. They are so passionate about this team."

To book a Cameo with Murray and see examples of his work, visit

Cameo.com/PA4CBJ

.