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When the Caps aren't busy on the ice, they are busy giving back to the community. Players, coaches, staff, and their families are often lending a helping hand or providing smiles to those in need in the D.C. Metro area.

Check out all that they are doing on social media with the hashtag #CapsCare.

Player Programs

Dowd's Crowd

In 2018, Nic and Paige Dowd created Dowd's Crowd to provide the opportunity for a child with sensory issues to be able to attend and enjoy a Caps game. Tickets and a Dowd's Crowd branded sensory kit are provided to recipients who are selected through local organizations and schools. The Dowds were inspired to launch this player program due to Paige's education in Speech Therapy in college. Paige continues to work in this field and the Dowds enjoy being able to meet with their ticket recipients to chat post-game.

Forty Three's Friends

In 2018, Tom Wilson created 43's Friends to provide tickets and a special postgame meet and greet to kids waiting for their wishes to be granted by Make-a-Wish Mid-Atlantic. In 2019, he expanded his program to also include families selected by United Heroes League. Over the course of a season he donates  tickets to families selected through Make-a-Wish Mid-Atlantic and United Heroes League and meets with the families postgame. Wilson chose MAW Mid-Atlantic after being inspired by a former player who had donated tickets to MAW and selected United Heroes League after meeting many incredible men and women in the area who serve or have previously served in the military.

Lindy's Lineup

In 2023, Charlie and Mikkayla Lindgren created Lindy's Lineup to provide opportunities for youth involved in adaptive sports and for children in special education classrooms. The Lindgrens were inspired to launch this player program based on Mikkayla's background in pediatric occupational therapy. Mikkayla continues to work in this space, and the Lindgrens are excited to meet the next generation of Caps fans in the classroom and on the ice!

So Kids Can

So Kids Can was created in 2008 by former Capitals defenseman Mike Green and Elliot Segal to benefit youth-focused, nonprofit organizations.

Forward Nicklas Backstrom joined the cause in 2011 and forward Tom Wilson joined in 2017, with defenseman Martin Fehervary joining in 2023. Past participants include former Capitals players Karl Alzner, Brenden Dillon, Brooks Laich and Braden Holtby.

To date, So Kids Can has donated more than half a million dollars to charity. Past beneficiaries of So Kids Can include Kid Power Inc, The Greater Washington Urban League, DC Central Kitchen, The Heart of America Foundation, the KIDS Mobile Medical Clinic/Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, Horton's Kids, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and KaBOOM!

Ovi's 8's

In 2006, Ovechkin created Ovi's 8's to provide tickets to underserved children in the region. Currently, Ovechkin purchases eight Capitals season tickets and donates them to the American Special Hockey Association.

ASHA then distributes these tickets to participants in the four local Special Hockey teams: Baltimore Saints, Montgomery Cheetahs, NOVA Cool Cats, and Washington Ice Dogs.

Since the creation of this program, Ovechkin has donated nearly 5,000 tickets to the community. He also hosts a skate for all ASHA participants annually.

Dylan Strome | Hockey Fights Cancer

Pierre-Luc Dubois | Canine Calendar

2024 Capital Pride Parade

Lake Fairfax Park Inline Rink

2024 Playoff Babies

Caps Care Community Award Ceremony

2024 Pride Night

Rink2Reef Go Green Night

Pascal's Wish

So Kids Can Visit 2024

Caps in School Field Trip

Valentine's Day Hospital Visit

LTP All-Star Weekend 2024

Black History Month Roundtable

Star Spangled Baby Shower 2024

Our Initatives

Hispanic Heritage Month

Each year, the NHL, NHLPA and the entire hockey community celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 through October 15. The month focuses on celebrating the contributions of the Hispanic and Latinx community to the game of hockey.

This year's Hispanic Heritage night is on Tuesday, October 15th vs. the Vegas Golden Knights and there will be a pregame Block Party at District E.

Click to buy tickets for Hispanic Heritage Night!

Hockey Fights Cancer

Hockey Fights Cancer™ is an initiative founded in December 1998 by the National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players' Association to raise money and awareness for hockey's most important fight.  

Hockey Fights Cancer night this year is Saturday, November 18 vs. the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Hockey Talks

The Washington Capitals are partnering with MedStar Health to promote Hockey Talks, to raise awareness and help end the stigma around mental health. The Hockey Talks mental health awareness initiative began in 2013, following the tragic passing of Canucks player Rick Rypien in 2011.

This year's Hockey Talks Night is Saturday, January 13 vs. the New York Rangers.

Black Hockey

The Washington Capitals engage with existing programs and offer additional opportunities to provide people of all backgrounds opportunities to play hockey year-round. The Capitals know that Black lives matter - which is why the organization is committed to fostering diversity in hockey through both on-and off-ice events and initiatives. The Capitals also annually host a Black History in Hockey Night, honoring contributions of Black players to the game.

This year's Black History Night is Monday, January 26 vs. the Ottawa Senators.

Women In Hockey

The Washington Capitals ALL CAPS ALL HER platform is an initiative aiming to provide access to hockey and elevate the game for women and girls in the Washington D.C. area, while recognizing and supporting female players, coaches, parents, advocates, and leaders in the community.

This year's Women in Hockey Night is Saturday, March 9 vs. the Chicago Blackhawks.

Pride

The Washington Capitals and Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation are proud to support the LGBTQ+ community and strive to create and cultivate an inclusive environment through several community initiatives and local nonprofit partnerships.

This year's Pride night is Wednesday, March 20 vs. the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Go Green

During the Washington Capitals Go Green Night, fans learn how they can support a cleaner environment through green-themed activations. The Capitals also partner with Rink2Reef on using repurposed hockey sticks to build reefs to help restore the oyster population of the Chesapeake Bay.

This year's Go Green night is Thursday, April 4 vs. the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation

The MSE Foundation is committed to making the region a better place for all by supporting game-changing solutions for our community. We fundraise, provide grants to nonprofits and rally MSE's teams and fans to support and amplify the impact of community change agents. Together, we're raising the game in the DMV.