Below is a list of hockey or skating charities, programs and organizations for children. Skate To Great is affiliated with some but not all of these organizations, though we admire the work of all of them. Skate To Great aims to support organizations like these with the skates, helmets and sticks we collect. If you know of an organization that should be listed here, please contact us. Together, we can provide every child with the opportunity to skate!
Hockey Diversity Alliance
HDA strives to create sustainable change on all levels of hockey. “At the grassroots level, (they) will work to ensure hockey is accessible to anyone who loves the game.”
Hockey Diversity Alliance’s Website
Reach: National (Canada)
Hockey 4 Youth
Hockey 4 Youth is a regional based organization operating in Toronto and Montreal, assisting various schools and organizations with community hockey programs. Hockey 4 Youth has a mission to remove the social and economic barriers while increasing access for new Canadian youth to play hockey and learn valuable life skills through their T.E.A.C.H. program.
Reach: Regional with primary focus in Toronto & Montreal
Canadian Blind Hockey
Canadian Blind Hockey is a national registered charity that changes the lives of children, youth and adults who are blind or partially sighted by providing Blind Hockey programming including: introductory try-it sessions, development camps, regional and national competitions, and by supporting the Canadian Blind Hockey Teams.
The para-sport of Blind Hockey is played by athletes whose level of vision ranges from legally blind – which is approximately 10% vision – to completely blind, using an adapted puck that makes noise and is bigger than a traditional puck.
Canadian Blind Hockey’s Website
Reach: National
HEROS Hockey
The Hockey Education Reaching Out Society (HEROS) is a registered Canadian charitable organization committed to empowering children through ice hockey.
The premise of HEROS is to use hockey as a catalyst in attracting youth to a program offering support for education self-esteem building and life skills training.
The program focuses on boys and girls of diverse ethnicity from economically challenged neighbourhoods. The program will be conducted in an environment of fun and safety where each child is considered a HERO.
Reach: Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal
KidSport
KidSport Canada is a national not-for-profit organization that provides financial assistance to kids aged 18 and under. Through a confidential application process, registration fees and equipment costs are covered allowing children to play a season of the sports they love.
Reach: Canada (National)
P.R.O. Kids
P.R.O. Kids is a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to helping economically disadvantaged children and youth access community recreation activities. Since its establishment in 1998, P.R.O. Kids has made nearly 14,000 placements of children into recreational activities. Each experience provides the opportunity for youth to develop into positive, contributing members of our community as they learn new skills, teamwork and cooperation. The sense of pride in their abilities leads to a sense of achievement and self-confidence.
Saint John’s Website
Niagara Region’s Website
Reach: Saint John, New Brunswick & Niagara Region, Ontario
Big Brothers Big Sisters
For one hundred years, Big Brothers Big Sisters has been making a positive difference in the lives of our nation’s youth. They have developed and implemented a wide range of one-to-one and group mentoring programs both inside and outside schools.
Serving as role models, Big Brothers Big Sisters teach by example the importance of giving back, staying in school, and of having respect for family, peers and community. Each time we pair a child with a mentor or introduce a group of students to an in-school program, we start something incredible – a life-changing relationship built on friendship, trust and empowerment.
Big Brother Big Sisters’ Website
Reach: Canada (National)
Classroom Champions
Targeting children in Kindergarten through grade 8, Classroom Champions brings Olympians, Paralympians and their games into the classroom using videos and live chats.
A kind of 21st century pen-pal, each athlete mentor adopts 1-4 classrooms per year. Focusing on their own personal journey, athletes teach about the hard work of training, goal setting, competition and perseverance. Using video lessons and live video chats, students are engaged with their athlete mentor several times per month.
Reach: North America
Hockey Is For Everyone
Hockey is for Everyone (HIFE) is the National Hockey League’s official youth development program. HIFE provides support to non-profit youth hockey organizations across North America. They are committed to offering children of all backgrounds opportunities to play hockey.
Hockey Is For Everyone Website
Reach: North America
Right To Play – PLAY Program
Right To Play’s mission is to use sport and play to educate and empower children and youth to overcome the effects of poverty, conflict, and disease in disadvantaged communities.
The PLAY Program is being implemented in partnership with First Nations communities, Tribal Councils and a variety of Aboriginal organizations across Ontario.
Reach: The PLAY Program is within select Aboriginal Communities within Canada.
Skate Canada – Learn To Skate CanSkate
CanSkate is Skate Canada’s flagship learn-to-skate program, designed for beginners of all ages. When you sign up for CanSkate you will be in a program that focuses on fun, participation and basic skill development. You will earn badges and other incentives as you learn fundamental skating skills. Lessons are given in a group format and led by an NCCP certified professional coach. Professional coaches are assisted by trained Program Assistants. The coach to student ratio is a maximum of 1:10. Skaters progress at their own rate and coaches make sessions active using teaching aids, music and a wide variety of activities that create a fun environment and promote learning. CanSkate is the feeder program to all other Skate Canada Skating Programs.
Reach: Canada (National)
Jumpstart
Jumpstart is dedicated to removing barriers and allowing children can participate in organized sport and recreation.
Jumpstart is a national charitable organization that helps financially disadvantaged kids participate in organized sports by covering registration, equipment and transportation costs.
Reach: Canada (National)
CanFUND
CAN Fund is a not-for-profit organization devoted solely to raising funds and awareness of our Canadian athletes.
Reach: Canada (National)
Kids Up Front
Kids Up Front Foundation provides children with the opportunity to access art, culture, and recreational sports.
Kids Up Front works with a variety of charitable child-serving agencies to fairly distribute tickets to thousands of children. From selecting suitable ticket recipients to arranging appropriate supervision and coordinating event logistics, Kids Up Front provides children with amazing opportunities they might otherwise not have.
Reach: Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Toronto
OneGoal
OneGoal provides packaged, branded hockey kits which include helmets, protective equipment, and everything you may need except skates and a stick. Multiple units need to be purchased to place an order.
USA Hockey Program Services Website
Reach: North America
The Gretzky Foundation
Founded in 2002, the Wayne Gretzky Foundation’s mission is to provide less fortunate youth with the opportunity to experience hockey. This goal will be accomplished through the donation of hockey equipment and ice time, as well as providing the opportunity for children to attend professional hockey games. The Wayne Gretzky Foundation believes hockey instills positive life skills and contributes to the physical, emotional and social growth of young people.
Reach: National
Chevrolet Canada Free Hockey Helmets for 5 year old Children
This program provides helmets to parents of 5 year old children each year. Please visit their website for more information.
Safe & Fun Hockey Helmet Program Website
Reach: Canada (National)
Goals & Dreams Fund
The NHL Players Association Goals & Dreams fund is the largest grassroots hockey assistance program in the world. Founded in 1999, Goals & Dreams has contributed over $21 million to grassroots hockey programs and related causes in 30 countries. Through the donation of equipment grants, the program has given more than 60,000 deserving children the opportunity to play hockey and benefit from the sport’s commitment to teamwork, discipline and physical fitness.
NHLPA Goal & Dreams Fund Website
Reach: North America
Play Hockey Community Grants
Play Hockey offers grants to community hockey organizations and sports associations to grow the game and keep hockey vital across Canada. The program is focused on helping get more children on the ice and providing opportunities for kids to get out and play. Registered charities are eligible for one of 20 grants of $25,000.
Reach: North America
Parachute / ThinkFirst – Helmet Program
Parachute is a national non-profit organization dedicated to the prevention of brain and spinal cord injuries.
ThinkFirst created the Give-a-kid-a-helmet program in 2003 to provide children with a helmet so that they can participate safely in the healthy physical activities of childhood – like riding a bike, learning to ice skate, or playing team sports such as hockey and baseball. Through this program and related initiatives, they’ve given away over $700,000 in helmets, supplying 35,000 kids across Canada with this vital protective gear.
Reach: National
Boys And Girls Clubs of Canada
Boys and Girls Clubs bring out the potential in every child. Their Clubs offer children, from pre-school to young adulthood, a safe, affordable, enriching and fun place to go after school.
Boys And Girls Clubs provide challenging activities that encourage healthy living, personal growth, learning, and community involvement. They aim to build self-esteem through supportive adult mentors and engaging activities that challenge and enrich the mind, body and spirit of each child.
Boys And Girls Clubs Of Canada Website
Reach: Canada (National)
Ryerson University’s Mattamy Athletic Centre, Community Skate Days (formerly Maple Leaf Gardens)
Ryerson University’s Mattamy Athletic Centre (formerly Maple Leaf Gardens) offers free community skate days throughout the season.
Mattamy Athletic Centre Website
Reach: Local (Toronto)
NHL Alumni – Beyond The Boards
Beyond The Boards is the NHL Alumni’s grassroots charitable initiative committed to improving the lives of families and children throughout North America. This is achieved by bringing together former NHL players in community activities with the goal of inspiring today’s youth through positive sports images and building a better foundation for our youth.
Reach: North America
Ryerson Rams-In-Training
Affiliated with Toronto’s Ryerson University, Rams-In-Training is an athletic program for local children and youth between the ages seven and sixteen. The 20-week program is intended to develop excellent hockey skills as well as educate participants on the subject of healthy living through various courses including on and off-ice training, nutrition, and day-in-a-life classes.
Ryerson Rams-In-Training Website
Reach: Toronto, ON
ProAction Cops & Kids
ProAction Cops & Kids provides funding support for police programs for at risk youth in Toronto, Durham and Hamilton regions. The goal is to establish positive relationships between cops and kids in order to strengthen the community. One of ProAction’s signature programs is the ProAction Hockey League which is run weekly in the greater Toronto area throughout the winter months for children in these regions.
Reach: Regional (Ontario)
