Source : tennessean.com
There were worries that the huge, oversized check on stage at
Bridgestone Arena on Monday going to charity might not have been as big
this year.
But Nashville Predators fans, through the Predators Foundation, managed to help give enough to surpass the prior year’s haul, a feat achieved every year since it was founded 15 years ago. On Monday, the foundation presented 113 checks to Tennessee nonprofit organizations to help them carry on their missions.
“This year going into the season we were pretty worried for obvious reasons,” said Predators President Sean Henry, speaking in front of more than 300 people at Bridgestone. “We had the lockout, we had a shortened season, and we really thought this was going to be the year that we were not going to be able to surpass last year’s $350,000 or $360,000.”
This year’s total: $405,000.
The money will go to charities such as Habitat for Humanity, Centerstone of Tennessee and The Arc Williamson County, which serves families with disabled children. For many of the nonprofits, every penny counts in a struggling economy.
Kim Stringfield-Davis, executive director of the 23rd District Child Advocacy Center, made no bones about how hard it has been to maintain funding over the past few years.
“Very difficult,” she said. “Obviously the economic downturn has hit nonprofits hard.”
Her organization helps children who are abused and neglected in Cheatham, Dickson, Houston, Humphreys and Stewart counties, where many of the children they are serving come from meth homes.
The Predators Foundation also is helping to fund Pavlov, a trained half-golden retriever, half-lab who comforts children who have to talk to police or testify in court.
Henry said he was happy to be giving out more money than any previous year, and that their success is testament to Nashville’s giving spirit.
“For that we’re very, very proud. It really shows what a great place Nashville is, and more importantly how special our fans are and their support for our organization,” he said.
But Nashville Predators fans, through the Predators Foundation, managed to help give enough to surpass the prior year’s haul, a feat achieved every year since it was founded 15 years ago. On Monday, the foundation presented 113 checks to Tennessee nonprofit organizations to help them carry on their missions.
“This year going into the season we were pretty worried for obvious reasons,” said Predators President Sean Henry, speaking in front of more than 300 people at Bridgestone. “We had the lockout, we had a shortened season, and we really thought this was going to be the year that we were not going to be able to surpass last year’s $350,000 or $360,000.”
This year’s total: $405,000.
The money will go to charities such as Habitat for Humanity, Centerstone of Tennessee and The Arc Williamson County, which serves families with disabled children. For many of the nonprofits, every penny counts in a struggling economy.
Kim Stringfield-Davis, executive director of the 23rd District Child Advocacy Center, made no bones about how hard it has been to maintain funding over the past few years.
“Very difficult,” she said. “Obviously the economic downturn has hit nonprofits hard.”
Her organization helps children who are abused and neglected in Cheatham, Dickson, Houston, Humphreys and Stewart counties, where many of the children they are serving come from meth homes.
The Predators Foundation also is helping to fund Pavlov, a trained half-golden retriever, half-lab who comforts children who have to talk to police or testify in court.
Henry said he was happy to be giving out more money than any previous year, and that their success is testament to Nashville’s giving spirit.
“For that we’re very, very proud. It really shows what a great place Nashville is, and more importantly how special our fans are and their support for our organization,” he said.
