Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender donates over $25,000 to benefit Thunder Bay area children
By Rick Garrick
THUNDER BAY—A donation of about $24,720 by Pittsburg Penguins goalie Matt Murray and the upcoming Mazinaajim Children’s Foundation 3rd Annual Dare to Dream Day fundraiser were recently highlighted by Dilico Anishinabek Family Care.
“It is a great donation,” says Fort William First Nation Chief Peter Collins. “I think Matt is really respectful of the organization, but also mindful of what his dad did for the organization at the same time. So I thank Matt for his donation to Dilico — it will go a long ways in helping make sure the kids have a good life.”
Murray, who is from Thunder Bay, pledged to donate $30 USD for each save he made during the 2018-2019 NHL regular season as part of his new program, Saves MATTer, where $15 from each save is to go to the Ward Home in Pittsburgh and $15 is split between two charities in Thunder Bay – Children’s Aid Services and Dilico. This season, his 1,465 saves translated into $43,950 USD. The Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation supported Murray by donating an additional $30,000 USD, which raised the total to $73,950 USD, or about $98,879 CAD.
“I’m very fortunate to be a professional athlete and I want to do what I can to help others, especially kids and young adults,” Murray says. “My dad worked with his hometown charities both professionally and personally throughout his life, so these donations are being made in his honour.”
Dilico plans to allocate Murray’s donation to Mazinaajim, which was established by Dilico in 2009 as an Anishinabek-led registered charity. The donation will be used to provide recreational, educational, cultural and leadership opportunities to Anishinabek children and families.
“We are so happy that Matt Murray is giving back to our community in such a big way,” says Tana-Leigh Harty, president of Mazinaajim. “This significant contribution will assist the Mazinaajim Children’s Foundation to provide bursaries to Indigenous children and youth to help them achieve their dreams.”
Blythe Haynen, community engagement manager with Dilico, says this was Murray’s largest donation to date.
“Everyone is really excited,” Haynen says. “The board met this week and were overwhelmed with the support that he has given the foundation.”
Mazinaajim is holding the 3rd Annual Dare to Dream Day on April 27 at St. Patrick High School to raise funds to enable children to achieve their dreams and grow and develop into healthy community members.
“This year we are taking a really exciting twist on it — we have put together a variety show,” Haynen says. “We have a number of different acts and talented youth from the local area coming to perform and really just to show youth what they can do and to inspire them to dream big.”
Haynen says the event will include cheerleaders, dancers and musicians with Dave Jones, from Turtle Concepts, as the emcee.
“We’re hoping to get a lot of people out this year,” Haynen says. “We’re partnering with students [from St. Patrick High School]. They will be performing a play to inspire students. As well as volunteering for us, they have shown so much support this year.”
Murray also donated about $24,720 CAD to the Children’s Aid Society of the District of Thunder Bay and about $49,441CAD (or $36,975 USD), to the Ward Home in Pittsburgh. The Ward Home is the premier provider of independent living services for at-risk teens and young adults in the Pittsburgh region.
“The Children’s Aid Society and its Foundation are extremely grateful for the generous donation by Matt Murray and the Pittsburgh Penguin’s Foundation,” says Bob Thompson, president of The Children’s Aid Foundation of the District of Thunder Bay. “What a wonderful way to honour the legacy of Matt’s father, Mr. Jim Murray, and the significant contribution he made to the children, youth and families of our community.”