Ducks Give Local School a Makeover Through the Power PLAY! Project

The Ducks kicked off their 25th Anniversary Season presented by UCI Health celebration last week by providing a local elementary school with a campus makeover through the club's sixth annual Power PLAY! Project.

Richman Elementary School in Fullerton received large-scale upgrades to their campus such as painted murals, trees and shrubs, a garden refurbishment and a permanent street hockey rink. More than 75 volunteers including Ducks staff members, Orange Alliance members, corporate partners and Ducks players Jakob Silfverberg and Brandon Montour assisted with the beautification project.
Nearly 700 of Richman's first through sixth grader students gathered at their new rink to celebrate the official unveiling of the school's upgrades. Wild Wing and Anaheim Ducks Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Aaron Teats joined Ducks television play-by-play announcer John Ahlers in hosting the opening ceremony alongside the school's teachers and administrators, as well as several district and school board members.
"Never could I have imagined this kind of partnership," said Richman principal, Kristen Holm. "The Ducks are completely supportive…and have shown that education is important. Everything that they do for our school and our district goes above and beyond any other company that I've ever seen."
As a five-year participant and partner school in the Ducks S.C.O.R.E. (Scholastic Curriculum of Recreation & Education) Program, Richman not only utilizes the program's street hockey curriculum, but also participates annually in the First Flight Field Trip and the Reading is the Goal and Captain's Challenge initiatives.
The street hockey rink on Richman's campus is the eighth of its kind to be installed by the Ducks at local area schools. With Hermosa Drive Elementary in Fullerton as the recipient of the 2015 Power PLAY! Project, Richman is the second school in the Fullerton School District to receive the campus upgrades and rink.
"The sport of hockey is starting to grow and build within our district," said Dr. Robert Pletka, Fullerton School District Superintendent. "We value it not only because it's a game, but it's a healthy practice in terms of keeping our kids active. It's also a great way to build a sense of team. It's a way for kids to learn camaraderie and collaboration and teamwork."

The Richman Racers street hockey team secured fourth place and the spirit award last spring as participants in the S.C.O.R.E. Shootout Street Hockey Tournament held annually at Honda Center. Richman physical education teacher and hockey coach Mike Shaffer envisions expanding the street hockey curriculum to second and third grade students, as well as offering a lunchtime league.
"This rink will give the kids a better quality opportunity to learn and play hockey," Shaffer said. "It's amazing to give them this level of experience. It makes them excited to come to school and to play hockey. It's a new sport, but it's a sport that's approachable for everyone. It puts everyone on an even playing field. They get to learn the skills of the game and learn to work with other people."
Including Richman and Hermosa, there are currently seven schools within the Fullerton School District that are participants in the S.C.O.R.E. Street Hockey Program. Hermosa already hosts an annual street hockey tournament at their school's rink each spring, and Holm hopes for Richman to have that same kind of reach and influence in Fullerton with their new rink.
"This is going to give us an opportunity to hold tournaments here at Richman and to get other schools involved in the street hockey program," said Holm. "It's not about who wins or loses. It's about playing to your full potential with heart, but also remembering good sportsmanship. There are a lot of schools in Fullerton that don't have a hockey team yet. Hopefully this will inspire them."
Ten-year old fifth grader Salvatore was a member of Richman's street hockey team last year, and the goalie is excited about being able to hone his skills on the school's new rink.
"I feel like now we can grow and be better hockey players now that we have a rink we can practice on," Salvatore said. "The Ducks are a very good team with very good sportsmanship, and I like that they would think of Richman to give a hockey rink to. It was surprising to me that they would do this. It's pretty awesome."

Richman fifth grader Melina was also a member of the school's street hockey team and is looking forward to having her friends join her on the playground for some hockey.
"It's exciting that we have a hockey rink," Melina said. "I think it's going to be good for my friends to play with me. I love hockey because it's a fun sport and I get to play with my friends."
Having been introduced to street hockey through the S.C.O.R.E. program at Richman, Melina is now taking her love for the sport to a new level by learning to play ice hockey as a recipient of The Rinks Find Your Grind Hockey Scholarship.
Thanks to the generosity of the Find Your Grind Foundation and the Anaheim Ducks Foundation, 30 local students like Melina are pursuing their hockey skills through the financial assistance program. And during this inaugural year, the Find Your Grind Hockey Scholarship also includes partner programming with C4Kids, a new platform launched by Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler and his girlfriend, Jasmine Maggard, in support of local youth who want to pursue their passion for playing hockey.
Beyond the street hockey rink, Richman now has an upgraded garden, a quiet oasis in the middle of their bustling campus that will provide farm-to-table vegetables for the school's food service salad bar. The students have already taken pride and ownership in the planting and maintenance of the garden, and both Holm and Pletka agree that all the upgrades provided by the Ducks have changed the school's culture for the better.
"The parents here are so proud," Pletka said. "They are proud to be part of this school community. They are proud to be a part of the Ducks. They are really proud that people in our community care about our kids. The parents are so touched by the Ducks organization for investing not only money but their passion into this school and our children. It's pretty amazing."
For more information on the Anaheim Ducks S.C.O.R.E. Program, visit
ducksscore.com
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