New Partnership With Philadelphia Department of Recreation

Partnership Designed to Enrich Students' Classroom Learning and Participation

(PHILADELPHIA, PA, November 28, 2007) The Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation (ESYHF) is adding after school programming to three city ice rinks as the result of an expanded partnership with the Philadelphia Department of Recreation, according to ESYHF President Scott Tharp. The new participating rinks are the Scanlon Rink in the Kensington-section of Philadelphia, PA, the Laura Sims Skatehouse in West Philadelphia and the Simons Youth and Access and Teen Center in West Oak Lane.

“We’re really serving a dual purpose by adding after school programs at these rinks,” said Tharp. “We’re answering the need for more quality out-of-school activities for these boys and girls when they need us the most. This is really during the out-of-school hours when they otherwise would have little or no adult supervision. Simultaneously, we are also able to satisfy their demand for more ice time.”

Tharp anticipates the After School program will help the ESYHF reach its goal of doubling participation in the upcoming year.

An important component of the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation is academic support and life skills lessons. These programs will also be featured at the two new participating rinks. On ice practices and in class study sessions are designed for all skill and age levels, from beginner to advanced. There is no cost to participate.

The Scanlon Rink (J and Tioga Streets) will offer after school programming on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. The Laura Sims Skatehouse (Cobbs Creek at 63rd and Walnut Streets) will offer after school programming on Mondays through Fridays from 4:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. The Simons Recreation Center will offer after school programming on Mondays through Fridays from 4:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m.

Interested participants are encouraged to call the ESYHF Office at 215-952-5271 or visit esyhf.org. Space is limited and students will be registered on a first-come/first-serve basis. Pre-registration is required. As the season progresses, additional dates and times will be added to the schedule. Please check the calendar on the ESYHF website for an up-to-date list of events.

Philadelphia Flyers founder, Ed Snider, created the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation as a personal commitment to teach children important life lessons. The program, which utilizes ice hockey to bring inner city children together, stresses the importance of education, teamwork and character development.

The Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation uses the sport of ice hockey to bring a diverse population of children together enabling them to enjoy a top-notch sports experience coupled with an array of educational activities and character development. Snider created the Foundation in 2005 with 500 participants. The program has rapidly grown to include over 1,500 participants in just its second full-season.

The mission of the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation is to impact the lives of inner city youngsters in the Greater Philadelphia Region by developing programs that incorporate on-ice and off-ice activities, stressing citizenship, academics and life skills. The programs are provided to boys and girls who otherwise would not have opportunities to enjoy ice hockey. The Foundation provides equipment, ice time, and experienced coaching at no cost. The Foundation partners with the School District of Philadelphia to fund the cost of adding ice hockey instruction as part of the School District of Philadelphia’s physical education curriculum for elementary school students from 40 Philadelphia public schools.

Friday, November 30, 2007