Community Corner

Whiz Kids: Hockey Players Conduct Toy Drive for Epilepsy Foundation

Hockey players participate in toy drive for Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago.

When the combined teams of Bartlett, Wheaton North, West Chicago, St. Francis, Elgin Academy and Wheaton Christian Academy are not on the ice mixing it up with other local area teams,. The boys gathered earlier in the season to sell bags of groceries for a donation to charity. Last weekend they took gifts and food to the Midwest Shelter. Sunday, Dec. 18, the boys each brought in a toy for the toy drive they conducted during the Fan Appreciation Night held at Fox Valley Arena.

The toy drive was for the Help the ELF Program that works in conjunction with the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago. The generosity of the boys and their families was once more clearly evident because over 200 toys were collected for children suffering from epilepsy and having to be hospitalized during this Christmas season.

Help the ELF began its program five years ago and our hockey organization has participated in the toy drive for the past two years. The Chicago Wolves have joined with the team both of the years as supporters.

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Not only the WildHawks players brought gifts, the opposing teams: Hinsdale South (JV) and Downers South (Varsity) brought toys for the drive. To thank the donors, the Wildhawks had raffle prizes that included two sets of (4) Wolves tickets, three Wolves pucks, three autographed Wolves hats, two Wolves t-shirts and two gift baskets. There was also food and fun for the families that attended the Student and Fan Appreciation Night; turnout was great!

Winners of the t-shirts included Simon Aniello, West Chicago and Ashley Sadowski of Wheaton/Warrenville, and the Addante Family from Bartlett; The Kleins and Lyjacks wond the Wolves tickets; the Wiedmyers and Andersons won the autographed Wolves apparel and pucks; the Brencs and Ummels won WildHawks Spirit Wear, and it is always nice to be a friend of a coach and win a gift basket!

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The evening was a great success all around.  The JV won their game 10-0; kids around Chicagoland with Epilepsy (over 125,000 in Chicagoland alone suffer from Epilepsy) will get a cute gift and friends and family members of the players got to celebrate in the sky boxes.

Courtesy of Melissa Stoneburner


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