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Rangers skate with their fans and Sun Life donates $10,000 to the Kids in Gear program
by Helen Hall
Kitchener Citizen​
   About 600 kids had a chance to Skate with the Rangers on January 28, and many more will benefit from the Kids in Gear program that was celebrated during the event.
   The Kids in Gear program began in August 2010. It assists with the collection and purchase of hockey equipment for youth who require financial support in Kitchener and Waterloo.
   Sun Life Financial took over as the title sponsor in 2011. The company announced that it is donating $10,000 to the Kids in Gear program. Some of this money is the result of Sun Life making a monetary donation every time the Rangers score a goal at home, so the amount will continue to rise as the Rangers continue their season.
   In addition, over the past few weeks, 10 large bins of donated hockey equipment have been collected through drop-off locations at the Aud, Sun Life Financial Centres and its headquarters, and at Forbes Motors in Waterloo.
   The donated equipment is sold to a local sports store that provides credits to purchase new equipment for Kitchener Minor Hockey’s (KMHA) Donna’s Kids Program. This program also provides financial support and assists with playing fees for families in Kitchener-Waterloo and area.
   Many Rangers took part in the skate and signed autographs,
including captain Michael Cate-nacci; assistant captains Ryan
Murphy, Cody Sol, Andrew Crescenzi; as well as Radek Faksa,
Tobias Rieder, Ben Fanelli, Brent Pedersen, Ben Thomson,
​Max Iafrate, and Zach Lorentz.
   They skated for four hours at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium
​ with those who won tickets through draws, community partners,
​ members of media outlets, and Sun Life employees and advisors.
   ​​Each hour had close to the maximum of 160 skaters allowed on the ice at one time.
Kitchener Rangers, from left, Andrew Crescenzi, Ryan Murphy, Radek Faksa, and Cody Sol show just some of the hockey gear that has been donated as part of Sun Life Financial’s Kids in Gear program. The company is helping young hockey players who cannot afford equipment by collecting used equipment and also donating money for each goal scored at home by the Rangers. Sun Life announced that as of the January 28th Skate with the Rangers event, the amount is at $10,000 and rising with each goal.
                                                                                ​ Photo by Helen Hall