Ed Snider is eternally grateful for the many ways that hockey has enriched his own life. Out of respect for the sport and the athletes who play it, he wanted to do something for those individuals who have not been exposed to the game of hockey.

In 2005, Mr. Snider made this dream a reality by creating the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation to give underserved children an opportunity to play the "greatest game ever invented."  The Foundation provides children in the greater Philadelphia region with the equipment, ice time and experienced coaching needed to play hockey.  In addition, it aims to supplement their academic and personal development by stressing the importance of schoolwork and citizenship skills.    

The First Season - 450 Students Learn to Play Hockey in Unique Partnership with the School District of Philadelphia

In its inaugural season, the Ed Snider Youth hockey Foundation forged an unique partnership with the School District of Philadelphia to provide a Learn to Play Hockey program to elementary and middle school boys and girls, ages 7 – 12, during the school day as an integral part of their physical education curriculum.  As a result the Foundation was able to host fifteen (15) schools and approximately 450 students at three (3) rinks throughout Philadelphia. Each of those students:

• Attended eight (8) on-ice practices led by experienced hockey coaches
• Was outfitted with a full set of ice hockey equipment
• Received reading materials at each practice (including a Hockey Rules Guide sponsored by United Health Care, game programs and similar promotional materials from Philadelphia Flyers and Phantoms)
• Learned “words of the week” designed to promote positive character development the by hosted events

In addition to our core ice hockey and character development programming, many of our participants enjoyed additional events hosted by the Foundation including:

• Thurgood Marshall School Exhibition Game: The School sponsored a field trip for its entire 5th & 6th grades (150 classmates & teachers) to observe ESYHF students in a fun scrimmage.
• Riverbend Environmental Education Center: ESYHF students/Greenberg School Field Trip.
• ESYHF @ Philadelphia Phantoms Games: Students and their families were provided with free tickets to see Philadelphia Phantoms hockey games at the Wachovia Spectrum.
• ESYHF Holiday Greeting Card Contest: Students competed in a design contest to create holiday cards – winners were awarded a ride on the Zamboni between periods at Philadelphia Flyers games, along with tickets to the games for their families.
• Flyers Wives Carnival: ESYHF students and volunteers assisted on-ice with “Shots on Goal.”
• ESYHF @ Philadelphia Flyers: ESYHF students played on the ice between periods of a Philadelphia Flyers game in “Mites on Ice."

Our Second Season - 1,000 Students and 6 Additional Rinks

This season, the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation is building upon our initial activities:

• Offering school district sessions and learn to play enrollments at four (4) primary rinks in and near Philadelphia schools.
• Initiating support to the established programming at the five (5) Philadelphia Department of Recreation Rinks.
• Expanding to serve 6th, 7th, and 8th graders and initiating three (3) Philadelphia District Middle School teams.

As a result of these developments and thanks to our partnership with the School District of Philadelphia, and of course to our volunteers, we are proud to report that we expect to support the hopes and dreams of 1,000 hockey players this season - many of whom might never have entertained the thought of even stepping into a rink had it not been for Mr. Snider's vision.