Hyundai Canada has donated $5,000 to the Hollyburn Hockey Heroes program, which helps youth 14-18 in the West Vancouver neighborhood participate in hockey and other sports. Many of the youth have been unable to play due to financial or social barriers, including mental health issues and homelessness.
Following a donation made pre-pandemic in 2020, this most recent donation from Hyundai Canada was made at the final tour stop of Rogers Hometown Hockey, which took place last weekend at the Shipyards in North Vancouver.
The cheque was presented to Steve Kirkby, the manager of Youth Services at the Hollyburn Family Services Society. Kirkby noted that generous donations such as these help pay for the ice time and create more opportunity for the community youth most in need.
“Mental health issues spiked during the pandemic and we’ve been described by some youth as a life raft during stormy waters after the pandemic hit,” said Kirkby. “This generous donation, and others, mean services such as the Hollyburn Hockey Heroes program can help even more kids who are so desperately in need of community services and support following the pandemic.”
This donation is part of an ongoing relationship between Hyundai Canada and the Hollyburn Family Services Society. Although hockey is central to the program, it also aims to improve their school attendance, improve grades, achieve a healthier lifestyle, keep them off the streets and build and facilitate positive relationships with peer mentors and other adults.
