Wellness Initiatives

WELLNESS INITIATIVES

Supporting health care, physical activity andawareness initiatives that directly impact theoverall wellness of our youth.

34

WELLNESS INITIATIVES

LOVE YOUR MELON

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CARE MOBILE

In 2018.19, the Penguins Foundation announced plans to construct a new Care Mobile in partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Pittsburgh and Morgantown, which will feature a Penguins-themed distraction therapy treatment room. Thanks to the tremendous support of the Penguins fan base, the Care Mobile will be heavily

funded by the Penguins Foundation’s unique Love Your Melon beanies. Sales were driven in large part through designated Love Your Melon Penguins gamedays and efforts by the team and Penguins Wives Association to support the cause. In 2018.19 alone, the Penguins Foundation raised over $80,000 towards the Care Mobile.

What is the Care Mobile?

• The Care Mobile is a 40-foot vehicle run by the Ronald McDonald House and staffed by UPMC Children’s Hospital.

• The Care Mobile provides 17 different services and tests including wellness visits, immunizations, physicals, sick visits and more.

• The Care Mobile originally launched in 2000 as the 2nd in the world.

Our Care Mobile program provides a service like no other. It gives children who live in underserved communities in our region the opportunity to access quality medical and dental care right in their backyard. The support of the Penguins Foundation through the Love Your Melon campaign will help us fund a new Care Mobile ensuring children can continue to receive the services they need.

$80,000+ in 208.19

Eleanor Reigel Executive Director Ronald McDonald House Charities of Pittsburgh and Morgantown

COMMUNITY IMPACT REPORT 2018.19

WELLNESS INITIATIVES

35

LOVE YOUR MELON WEEK

In celebration of the partnership with Ronald McDonald House, the Penguins Foundation hosted a dedicated Love Your Melon Week to kick-off sales of the 2018.19 edition beanies. Each day of the week marked a special event:

December 3: The Penguins Foundation hosted a social media contest for fans to enter-to-win tickets to the December 6 Penguins game.

December 4 & December 6: The Penguins Foundation hosted children and families staying at Ronald McDonald House to watch a Penguins game and enjoy once in a lifetime experiences from riding the Zamboni at intermission to high-fiving the team as they came off the ice.

December 5: The Pittsburgh Penguins made their annual holiday visit to UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh where they spent time with patients and delivered gifts to each room, one gift being a new Penguins Love Your Melon beanie.

December 7: The Penguins wives and girlfriends gathered in the kitchen of Ronald McDonald House in Pittsburgh where they cooked an extensive breakfast for families to enjoy before the long day of doctor visits. Each family was given a Penguins Love Your Melon beanie, and even got a surprise visit from Iceburgh.

COMMUNITY IMPACT REPORT 2018.19

36

WELLNESS INITIATIVES

WHO DO YOU FIGHT FOR?

MARIO LEMIEUX FOUNDATION NIGHT

The Penguins organization proudly celebrated the 25th anniversary season of the Mario Lemieux Foundation by hosting Mario Lemieux Foundation Night on November 15 at PPG Paints Arena. The dedicated gameday highlighted the impact that the Lemieux Foundation has made on the community related to cancer research and patient care with the Penguins Foundation donating proceeds from the 50/50 Raffle and Gameday Auction to these incredible causes.

BREAKAWAY FROM CANCER

HOCKEY FIGHTS CANCER

Held each November, the league-wide Hockey Fights Cancer (HFC) initiative aims to raise awareness and funds for cancer research. This season, on November 5, the Penguins hosted HFC during that evening’s home game. Cancer patients from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Make-A-Wish Foundation and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center were special guests of the organization. To draw attention to the cause, the Penguins coaching staff and broadcasters donned purple ties, while the players warmed-up in purple jerseys. In addition, during the Penguins road game on November 23, players used purple stick tape during pre-game warm-ups in support of HFC.

Over $40,000 was raised through the Hockey Fights Cancer jersey and stick auction to benefit the Mario Lemieux Foundation and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center!

The Penguins Foundation assisted Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer initiative to stand against cancer and fight for those who have battled or are currently battling cancer. The Penguins Foundation provided $25,000 to aid in this fight during a pre-game check presentation on March 17.

I don’t think any person in the history of sports has had more of an impact on a franchise than Mario Lemieux on the Pittsburgh Penguins. But beyond being a Hall of Fame player and a Stanley Cup-winning owner, he has made an indescribable impact on the Pittsburgh region with his commitment to the community, especially through the Mario Lemieux Foundation. We thank him for these 25 years of work with the Foundation – affecting so many young lives in a positive manner — and are proud to support him for many more.

David Morehouse CEO & President Pittsburgh Penguins

COMMUNITY IMPACT REPORT 2018.19

WELLNESS INITIATIVES

37

KEEP YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME

HEADS UP PITTSBURGH

The Penguins Foundation and UPMC Sports Medicine teamed up in 2011 to create HEADS UP Pittsburgh, the first program of its kind and a blueprint for the NHL, to combat an epidemic of concussions in young athletes. The program has expanded each year to serve more youth and to provide the latest training tools to aid in concussion reduction. To date, over 20,000 children have been tested in over 25 sports with education awareness provided to over 50,000 parents, coaches, referees and teachers. In addition, 500+ young athletes are involved in concussion research.

20,000+ Heads Up Participants

UPMC Sports Medicine is extremely grateful for the continued support from the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation and Dave Soltesz, Foundation President. Together, through HEADS UP Pittsburgh, we have been able to provide yearly concussion education, awareness, and free ImPACT® concussion baseline testing for the past nine years. The HEADS UP Pittsburgh outreach concussion program has impacted tens of thousands of student athletes and their parents/ guardians. We are eternally grateful for the support and partnership to provide this valuable service to Pittsburgh and the surrounding communities. UPMC Sports Medicine and the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation continue to lead the way in community outreach concussion services.

Rob Dingle, HSD, LAT, ATC Concussion Outreach Coordinator UPMC Sports Medicine

Expansion of HEADS UP Pittsburgh:

2011

Introduction of HEADS UP Pittsburgh to Hockey Athletes (Ages 10-14)

2012

Expansion of HEADS UP Pittsburgh to Athletes in All Sports

2013

Free Neck-Strengthening Kits to First 4,000 Participants

2014

Free Flexibility Kits to First 2,000 Participants

2015

Introduction of Pediatric-Version (Ages 7-9) of HEADS UP Pittsburgh

2016

Free Balance Discs to First 3,000 Participants

2017

Free Pilates Balls to First 3,000 Participants

2018

Free Neck-Strengthening Kits to First 1,000 Participants (Ages 10-14)

2019

Free Wind Resistance Strength Builders to First 2,500 Participants (Ages 10-14)

38

WELLNESS INITIATIVES

JUST SAY NO

HEROIN OUTREACH PREVENTION & EDUCATION (H.O.P.E.)

The Penguins Foundation and EVERFI partnered to support the FBI Pittsburgh Division and Citizens Academy on their Heroin Outreach Prevention and Education (H.O.P.E.) Initiative in 2018.19. H.O.P.E. teaches students about opioid abuse and provides an understanding of how abuse can be prevented. To put this knowledge into action, students were challenged to create a PSA for entry into a video contest with the Penguins Foundation providing a monetary donation and party suite tickets to the winning schools.

PRESCRIPTION DRUG SAFETY

In an effort to help address adolescent drug abuse and misuse in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Penguins Foundation, Rite Aid Foundation, EVERFI and Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro teamed up to bring the Prescription Drug Safety program, an innovative digital course about prescription drug abuse prevention, to Pittsburgh-area high schools at no cost. The series of six interactive modules educates students on opioids, depressants and stimulants and teaches the appropriate use for each drug, as well as intervention skills.

The FBI Pittsburgh Division’s H.O.P.E. Initiative values it’s corporate and community partners in our goal of raising awareness to our area’s youth on the dangers of opioid misuse and abuse. This project is unique, in that, it creates a peer-to-peer product that can be shared to anyone, anywhere. The students and school districts loved the incentive the Penguins Foundation has provided, and in the end, every team learned more about how severely this affects our community. Many of the students have already created a strategy for another chance to win in the coming school year!

Kelly Wesolosky Community Outreach Specialist FBI Pittsburgh Division

COMMUNITY IMPACT REPORT 2018.19

WELLNESS INITIATIVES

39

WORK IT OUT

PENSFIT

PensFIT is a Penguins Foundation initiative designed to introduce children to the sport of hockey and facilitate an increase in physical activity by supplying schools with complete sets of floor hockey equipment for use in physical education classes. Since the launch of PensFIT in 2012, the Penguins Foundation has provided free floor hockey equipment to more than 650 schools and community centers in 10 different counties.

PensFIT has given over 180,000 students exposure to hockey!

Get FIT!

• Each set of PensFIT equipment retails for over $1,000

• Each school receives goals, sticks, stick bags, hockey balls, goalie equipment and a storage bag

• Teacher training, instruction, and supplemental materials are also included in PensFIT

COMMUNITY IMPACT REPORT 2018.19

40

WELLNESS INITIATIVES

DONATE TODAY

PENGUINS BLOOD DRIVES

The Penguins organization hosted several blood drives at PPG Paints Arena during the 2018.19 season in partnership with Vitalant (formerly Central Blood Bank). The first blood drive of the season occurred on October 29 in response to the tragic shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. 254 people participated in this initial blood drive, with additional drives held throughout the season, in an effort to provide life-saving assistance for those in need.

ORGAN DONATION AWARENESS

Two Penguins fans connected for a life-saving donation thanks to one sign. Kelly Sowatsky, who was in desperate need of a kidney transplant, brought a homemade sign emphasizing “I need a kidney!” to a Pens game, which was seen by fellow fan Jeff Lynd. After discovering that the pair were a match, Jeff donated his kidney to Kelly on November 6 in Pittsburgh. The story caught the media’s attention providing a huge assist to organ donation awareness. To further the call for organ donors, on April 4, the Penguins hosted Organ Donation Awareness Night in partnership with UPMC. Without a doubt, the passion for the Penguins links people, but compassion for our neighbors is what makes extraordinary assists happen.

COMMUNITY IMPACT REPORT 2018.19

FOR CHILDREN’S

PENGUINS HYDRATION STATIONS

A new initiative for the 2018.19 season, the Penguins Foundation assisted Christopher’s Kitchen in placing 16 hydration stations at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Through these hydration stations, families of patients have access to Penguins reusable water bottles and cold filtered water. There are many things for the families at UPMC Children’s Hospital to be worrying about and access to clean, filtered water should not be one.

WELLNESS INITIATIVES

41

DVE ROCKS FOR CHILDREN’S RADIOTHON

In September, the Penguins organization and Penguins Foundation supported the 11th annual DVE Rocks Children’s Radiothon. Penguins alum Colby Armstrong hosted an hour on air driving donations for the kids of UPMC Children’s Hospital. Members of the Penguins, both past and present, assisted with Colby’s fundraising efforts, which resulted in 370 Rock Star donor registrations - a new record for this phenomenal fundraiser!

As a member of the Christopher’s Kitchen Board, every partnership and donation is a step in the direction of our ultimate goal: to ensure that no family has to worry about their basic needs while caring for their healing children. Our partnership with the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation to support the installation of the hydration stations into the hospital is instrumental to not only our foundation, but directly to the patients and families who will benefit from having access to the stations whenever they may need. As someone who has worked in healthcare in many capacities, I am deeply grateful for this specific partnership as I know how great the impact of a simple glass of clean water can be on the overall well-being of anyone involved in the health and care of a child. I am beyond grateful for the kindness and sincere generosity of the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation.

Kate Sullivan Pittsburgh Penguins

COMMUNITY IMPACT REPORT 2018.19

42

IN THE ZONE

C.O.O.L. ZONE

In partnership with Matilda Theiss and the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of UPMC, the Children Overcoming Obstacles and Limits (C.O.O.L.) Zone, is an early intervention behavioral health evaluation program for kids ages 3 through 11. Shaped like an “Igloo” to provide a safe space for children, the C.O.O.L. Zone serves children experiencing a range of behavioral and emotional disruptions such as: aggression, anxiety, depression, withdrawal, emotional difficulties and traumatic responses. The “Igloo” is set in a child-friendly classroom space with colorful wall art and toys to help children communicate in therapy in an age-appropriate way. Each space is equipped with the latest activities and items to support each child’s mental health needs including sensory items, calming areas, group activity corners, social-emotional games, private areas and more. Since 2015, the C.O.O.L. Zone has assisted over 240 children in the Pittsburgh region.

During the 2018.19 season, the Penguins Foundation opened the 5th C.O.O.L. Zone location at Hosanna House, which is the 1st community-based location!

C.O.O.L. Zone Locations:Edgewood Primary School | 241 Maple Ave. Pittsburgh, PAWilkins Primary School | 362 Churchill Rd. Pittsburgh, PATwin Rivers Primary and Intermediate School | 1600 Cornell St. McKeesport, PAPenn Hills Elementary School | 1079 Jefferson Rd. Pittsburgh, PAHosanna House | 807 Wallace Ave., Pittsburgh, PA

I’m proud to be part of such a unique and successful program, built from the ground up by our creative and talented staff. Our mission is to make therapy more comfortable for kids and their families by working with them in an environment that was specifically designed with their needs in mind. The response to the C.O.O.L. Zone has been incredibly positive. We’re looking forward to building more C.O.O.L. Zones in the future.

Dr. Kimberly Blair Director Matilda Theiss Early Childhood Behavior Health & WPIC Early Childhood Trauma Treatment Center

The C.O.O.L. Zone was featured in an article entitled ‘Getting Kids Help in Time’ in the U.S. News & World Report in October 2018!

COMMUNITY IMPACT REPORT 2018.19