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National Hockey League And Detroit Red Wings Foundation Spearhead Renovations And Upgrades To Clark Park Recreation Center

       NEW YORK (December 16, 2013) – The National Hockey League and Detroit Red Wings Foundation today unveiled its extensive renovations and upgrades to Detroit's Clark Park Coalition recreation center as part of the 2014 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® Legacy Initiative.  

        The NHL and Red Wings Foundation, with additional support from DTE Energy, Johnson Controls, and York, funded and spearheaded the donation of resources and materials to Clark Park's outdoor rink, the only regulation-sized outdoor rink in the Metro Detroit area. The enhancements included the donation of a Zamboni® ice resurfacing machine to replace the facility's aging 35-year old machine; lighting upgrades at the rink and parking lot for improved energy efficiency; an upgraded rink refrigeration system; snow removal equipment for its ice hockey and skating programs; a new ice surface and rink boards; new bicycle racks provided by Disenos Ornamental Iron; and sustainability facelifts to its recycling program provided by CleanRiver and NHL Green™.

        Clark Park Coalition provides year-round sports programming for more than 1,200 boys and girls. The organization has been a member of the NHL's Hockey is for Everyone™ initiative for more than 10 years, providing support and programming opportunities for children of diverse backgrounds to play hockey. 

        "We've seen how successful Hockey is for Everyone has been in this community, and how important Clark Park is to this area," said Brian Jennings, NHL Chief Marketing Officer. "We are proud to announce the beneficiary of the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic legacy initiative is Clark Park Coalition." 

"These donations build upon a decade of meaningful partnership and investment by the NHL and Detroit Red Wings into the lives of youth in Southwest Detroit," said Steve Tobocman, Clark Park Coalition President. "This current investment really paves the way to ensure that hockey can continue to be a critical component of our efforts to reach and develop kids living in poverty in this diverse Detroit community for years to come."

        The Detroit Red Wings Foundation, an affiliate of Ilitch Charities, provides funding for community initiatives that promote the growth of the sport of hockey. 

        "The Red Wings Foundation is thrilled to be a part of a meaningful initiative like this that gives youth in our community a great place to play hockey, stay healthy and active, and build values like teamwork, respect and integrity," said Christopher Ilitch, President and CEO of Ilitch Holdings and Chairman of Ilitch Charities, an affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings Foundation. "It's particularly special to us because Clark Park is just a couple of miles from the Wings' home ice and our players and coaching staff enjoy visiting and engaging with youth hockey players here."
         
        The NHL's Legacy Initiative is an on-going philanthropic endeavor in which the NHL, the local NHL team and NHL partners support a community organization in the host city as a legacy of an NHL event. 

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