Capitals Fans Raise More Than $42,000 with First Beard-a-thon
Proceeds benefit Washington Capitals Charities
Tuesday, 06.02.2009 / 12:24 PM
/ News
Washington Capitals
ARLINGTON, Va. – Washington Capitals fans raised more than $42,000 for Washington Capitals Charities through the team’s inaugural Beard-a-thon, which coincided with the 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs.
More than 2,000 fans participated in the Capitals Beard-a-thon, which encouraged fans to grow a beard themselves or make a financial donation in support of a Capitals player or a fan who elected to grow a playoff beard. Fans were also able to build a virtual beard for themselves at www.beardathon.com/capitals. In addition to fans, Comcast SportsNet anchors Brent Harris, Chick Hernandez, Michael Jenkins, Chris Miller and Russ Thaler and WJFK 106.7 FM radio personalities John “Cakes” Auville, Chad Dukes and Mike O’Meara participated by growing their own beards and soliciting pledges.
Adam Hordell was the top fund-raiser among Capitals fans. Hordell raised $2,833 and will receive an authentic Capitals jersey autographed by Alex Ovechkin as the top earner. Rounding out the top five beard growers were John Stortz ($2,653), Capitals public address announcer Wes Johnson ($2,035), Mark Callihan ($1,622.50) and Art Resnick ($1,246.50).
“The Beard-a-thon was a fun and creative way for Caps fans throughout the world to celebrate a great hockey tradition and to participate in the Caps playoff run,” said Tim McDermott, the Capitals chief marketing officer. “Thank you to all of our beard growers and to those who pledged, as the dollars raised through this promotion will make a positive impact in the community.”
About the Playoff Beard
A playoff beard is the practice of a National Hockey League player not shaving his beard during the Stanley Cup playoffs. The player stops shaving when his team enters the playoffs and does not shave until his team is eliminated or wins the Stanley Cup. It is believed that the tradition was started in the 1980s by the four-time Stanley Cup Champion New York Islanders. In recent years, other sports have claimed the playoff beard tradition, but it is, and always will be, a hockey tradition.
About Washington Capitals Charities
The Washington Capitals make a positive impact in the local community through the team’s nonprofit arm: Washington Capitals Charities. The Washington Capitals are dedicated to the enhancement and development of the community that has supported them for so many years. Since its creation in 2000, Washington Capitals Charities has raised nearly $3 million through various fundraisers, auctions, raffles and fan donations. The foundation has donated more than $2 million to numerous charities. Some of the worthy nonprofit organizations that Washington Capitals Charities has given to include: Children’s National Medical Center, The Children’s Inn at NIH, the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, the Foundation Fighting Blindness, H.E.R.O.E.S. Inc., the Washington Scholarship Fund, Army Emergency Relief, Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society and local youth hockey leagues and schools throughout the D.C. area.
More than 2,000 fans participated in the Capitals Beard-a-thon, which encouraged fans to grow a beard themselves or make a financial donation in support of a Capitals player or a fan who elected to grow a playoff beard. Fans were also able to build a virtual beard for themselves at www.beardathon.com/capitals. In addition to fans, Comcast SportsNet anchors Brent Harris, Chick Hernandez, Michael Jenkins, Chris Miller and Russ Thaler and WJFK 106.7 FM radio personalities John “Cakes” Auville, Chad Dukes and Mike O’Meara participated by growing their own beards and soliciting pledges.
Adam Hordell was the top fund-raiser among Capitals fans. Hordell raised $2,833 and will receive an authentic Capitals jersey autographed by Alex Ovechkin as the top earner. Rounding out the top five beard growers were John Stortz ($2,653), Capitals public address announcer Wes Johnson ($2,035), Mark Callihan ($1,622.50) and Art Resnick ($1,246.50).
“The Beard-a-thon was a fun and creative way for Caps fans throughout the world to celebrate a great hockey tradition and to participate in the Caps playoff run,” said Tim McDermott, the Capitals chief marketing officer. “Thank you to all of our beard growers and to those who pledged, as the dollars raised through this promotion will make a positive impact in the community.”
About the Playoff Beard
A playoff beard is the practice of a National Hockey League player not shaving his beard during the Stanley Cup playoffs. The player stops shaving when his team enters the playoffs and does not shave until his team is eliminated or wins the Stanley Cup. It is believed that the tradition was started in the 1980s by the four-time Stanley Cup Champion New York Islanders. In recent years, other sports have claimed the playoff beard tradition, but it is, and always will be, a hockey tradition.
About Washington Capitals Charities
The Washington Capitals make a positive impact in the local community through the team’s nonprofit arm: Washington Capitals Charities. The Washington Capitals are dedicated to the enhancement and development of the community that has supported them for so many years. Since its creation in 2000, Washington Capitals Charities has raised nearly $3 million through various fundraisers, auctions, raffles and fan donations. The foundation has donated more than $2 million to numerous charities. Some of the worthy nonprofit organizations that Washington Capitals Charities has given to include: Children’s National Medical Center, The Children’s Inn at NIH, the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, the Foundation Fighting Blindness, H.E.R.O.E.S. Inc., the Washington Scholarship Fund, Army Emergency Relief, Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society and local youth hockey leagues and schools throughout the D.C. area.
