NEW YORK/BOSTON - - As a legacy to the 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic®, the Boston Bruins and the Boston Bruins Foundation, the Boston Red Sox and the Boston Red Sox Foundation, and the National Hockey League (NHL) will contribute to the Martin Richard Foundation and Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester's fundraising efforts to build a new, fully-inclusive and accessible Fieldhouse for the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston.
2023 NHL Winter Classic legacy project announced
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The Martin Richard Foundation was founded in 2014 to honor 8-year-old Martin Richard, one of three people killed when two bombs exploded near the Boston Marathon finish line. The Foundation works to advance Martin's values of sportsmanship, inclusion, kindness and peace by investing in programs that encourage young people to celebrate diversity and engage as community leaders. The state-of-the-art Dorchester Fieldhouse will bring year-round athletics, culture and community to Boston kids and families, and serve more than 50,000 young people who live within a three-mile radius. Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester is dedicated to making a positive impact on Dorchester's youth and their families by providing a place to learn, explore talents and thrive. The Clubs currently provide access to over 200 activities for youth at three clubhouses.
"The Boston Bruins and the Boston Bruins Foundation are proud to partner with the Martin Richard Foundation for a legacy project with the NHL and the Boston Red Sox during the 2023 Winter Classic," said Bob Sweeney, President of Boston Bruins Foundation. "The Bruins Foundation has been associated with the Martin Richard Foundation since inception and we are proud to partner with them to provide essential services for Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester."
"Today's contribution from the NHL's Legacy initiative brings us another step closer to this once-in-a-generation space for all of Boston's young people to be active, build community and explore new skills," said Bill Richard, co-founder of the Martin Richard Foundation. "We're grateful to our longtime partners at the Boston Bruins, the Boston Bruins Foundation, NHL, Red Sox and Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester. Together we'll continue to invest in the growth and development of the next generation."
Today the Bruins, Red Sox and NHL celebrated the donation by inviting kids from Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester to participate in ball hockey programming with special guests -- including Boston Bruins alumni Tuukka Rask and Andrew Raycroft as well as mascots Blades the Bruin and Wally and Tessie the Green Monsters. Additionally, today's youth participants were given tickets to Monday's NHL Winter Classic at Fenway Park.
"The NHL is growing the sport of hockey by offering access and opportunities to communities and families that may have yet to experience the joy and excitement of playing the sport," said Kim Davis, NHL Senior Executive Vice President of Social Impact, Growth Initiatives and Legislative Affairs. "This contribution to accelerate ball hockey programming in Dorchester represents our broader belief - through NHL Street - that an affordable, culturally-relevant model of the game is possible and will appeal to children of all backgrounds."
The Legacy initiative is an ongoing philanthropic endeavor through which the League and the local Club support community organizations in the host city of an NHL Event. Since 2003, the League, its Clubs and partners have donated more than $6 million to communities across North America. Legacy projects have aided thousands of hospital patients in recovery; helped at-risk youth and families gain better access to educational and vocational training; and provided greater access to people of all ages to learn and play hockey.
The Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins will face off at Fenway Park in the 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic® on Monday, Jan. 2 at 2 p.m. ET (TNT, Sportsnet, CBC, TVA Sports).
