Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities and the Hockey Canada Foundation come together to get kids into minor hockey through "The Big Play"

New program gets 30,000 kids into the game over the next three years

TSN #BigPlay Twitter campaign rallies Canadians while raising funds for the program

TORONTO, Dec. 22, 2014 /CNW/ - Today, Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities (Jumpstart) and the Hockey Canada Foundation (HCF) launched The Big Play, a new program that will give more kids across Canada the opportunity to get into minor hockey.  

Through The Big Play program, Jumpstart and HCF are helping to open the door to the one in three Canadian families that can't afford to enroll their children in organized sport. For the next three years, Jumpstart and HCF will bring approximately 10,000 kids per year, ages four to 18, into the game of hockey. The Big Play will assist kids from financially disadvantaged families with the costs associated with registration and equipment.

"Every kid should have the chance to play hockey regardless of their family's financial situation. We're proud to partner with the Hockey Canada Foundation to get more kids into the game," said Landon French, Executive Director, Jumpstart Charities. "The Big Play ensures kids have the opportunity to develop the confidence, teamwork and leadership skills associated with organized sport, while creating a lifetime of memories, and we are thrilled to be launching this important program just as the 'Year of Sport' kicks off in Canada."

Jumpstart and HCF will work closely with Hockey Canada's 13 branches and the more than 330 local Jumpstart Chapters across Canada to communicate details of the program to minor hockey associations nationwide. Both organizations have a rich history of supporting the game and helping create greater accessibility at the grassroots level.

"The Big Play will provide a welcomed source of additional financial support for many Canadian families in need," said Chris Bright, Executive Director, Hockey Canada Foundation. "Participating in hockey is something every Canadian child should have the opportunity to experience during their youth."

Canadian Tire Corporation also announced today that it will make a donation to the local Jumpstart Chapter of each member of Canada's National Junior Team. These funds will help get five kids from each player's hometown into hockey.

And, during the tournament, hockey fans from across the country will have the opportunity to get even more kids into the game. Fans across Canada will see "big plays" from every game of the tournament on TSN's @TSNHockey Twitter feed (twitter.com/TSNHockey), with tweets using #BigPlay. For each retweet of TSN's #BigPlay videos, Canadian Tire will donate 25 cents to The Big Play to get kids into the game.

Families can get more information about how to apply for funding assistance by calling 1-844-YES-PLAY or visiting jumpstart.canadiantire.ca. Parents or guardians of players will receive information when the application process opens in mid-2015 for the 2015-2016 season.

About Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities
Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities is a national charity dedicated to providing kids from low-income families with the opportunity to experience the benefits of organized sports and physical activities. With an extensive, national network of more than 330 local chapters, Jumpstart helps kids in communities across Canada by assisting with the costs associated with registration, equipment and/or transportation. Supported by the Canadian Tire Family of Companies, which includes Canadian Tire, PartSource, Gas+, Sport Chek, Atmosphere, National Sports, Sports Experts, Mark's and Canadian Tire Financial Services, Jumpstart has enabled more than 875,000 Canadian kids and counting to get in the game since 2005.

Follow Jumpstart on Twitter and Facebook to learn about how the charity is giving kids across Canada a sporting chance.

About the Hockey Canada Foundation
The mission of the Hockey Canada Foundation is to support Hockey Canada by promoting and fostering accessibility to the game of hockey. The Hockey Canada Foundation supports initiatives that help ensure Canada remains at the forefront in the development and promotion of amateur hockey as well as creating access to our game. For more information on Hockey Canada or the Hockey Canada Foundation, please visit www.hockeycanada.ca, or follow along via social media at www.facebook.com/hockeycanada and www.twitter.com/hockeycanada.

Image with caption: "Landon French of Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, Chris Bright of Hockey Canada Foundation and the Canadian National Junior team launching the Big Play, a program that will give 30,000 Canadian kids the opportunity to get into minor hockey. (CNW Group/CANADIAN TIRE CORPORATION, LIMITED)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20141222_C5979_PHOTO_EN_9782.jpg

Image with caption: "Landon French of Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities and Chris Bright of Hockey Canada Foundation with Anthony Duclair and Curtis Lazar of the Canadian National Junior team, launching the Big Play, a program that will give 30,000 Canadian kids the opportunity to get into minor hockey. (CNW Group/CANADIAN TIRE CORPORATION, LIMITED)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20141222_C5979_PHOTO_EN_9783.jpg

SOURCE: CANADIAN TIRE CORPORATION, LIMITED

Carol Endicott, Canadian Tire Corporation, [email protected], Tel: [phone]; Candice Bruton, Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, [email protected], Tel: [phone]; Francis Dupont, Hockey Canada, [email protected], Tel: [phone]

Related Links

http://www.canadiantire.ca