Date Posted: April 6, 2011
Print Edition: April 1, 2011
By Ali Siemens (Staff Writer) – Email
On March 21, MSA Ford and the Abbotsford Minor Hockey Association hosted a team effort fundraiser in hopes to raise money for the Rep. Bantam Tier 1 championship. The fundraiser ran from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and gave participants the opportunity to test drive the 2011 truck of the year.
MSA Ford struck a deal with the AMHA; for every participant that test-drives the truck, MSA Ford would donate $20 to the fundraiser. The fundraiser, called Drive One 4UR Community, pulled in an impressive showing from the community. MSA Ford was willing to donate up to $6000 to the cause, which would require 300 test drivers in total. According to Jen Currie, an account executive from Peak Communicators, it nearly reached that goal. “The event had 253 test drives, so $5060 was raised,” she said. The fundraiser was an undeniable success.
Abbotsford Hawks were set to play the Burnaby Winter Club in the final match of the provincial Bantam Tier 1 championship, a battle of two strong teams. Prior to the game, Chris Beerman, spokesperson for Abbotsford Minor Hockey Association, described BWC as their “arch rivals,” and added, “it will be a tough game.”
Both teams played each other in the post season, the Hawks beating BWC in the opening match, and two games in the post-season. Sadly, BWC defeated the Hawks in the final game 6-3 on March 23 at MSA Arena.
Hockey is an important sport to most Canadians, and especially important at the minor level, such as the Abbotsford Hawks and the Warriors. Although the sport is popular, it seems with popularity, the prices rise. Costs of equipment, registration, travel, and tournament entry all add up, leaving some families strapped for cash by the end of the season.
Going to the MSA Arena to watch our boys and girls on the weekend involves seeing players and parents from all walks of life. Nonetheless, a community is built both on and off the ice. John Wayne MacMullin, the program facilitator for MSA Ford, works towards giving back to the community as much as possible. He played a big role in successfully bringing the Drive One 4UR Community and Drive One 4UR School programs to Abbotsford. “MSA Ford has been an intrinsic part of this community for 60 years,” he said.
MSA Ford also holds community fundraisers for schools throughout the Lower Mainland, donating money to events such as dry-grad, text books, and school equipment.
MacMullin has been a part of supporting Abbotsford sports programs and schools for years, with 11 more events booked in the next three months. “We involve ourselves in supporting every facet of our community that needs us, through, sponsorship, donations, fund-raisers, charity drives, gifts, assistance to transportation, [and] raffles,” he said.
Having community members and companies give back to organizations that positively influence the youth of Abbotsford is refreshing for all community members to reflect on. The money raised in the Drive One 4UR Community is going not just to the championship, but to Canuck Place as well.
Watching the Abbotsford Hawks and other AMHA players is a refreshing opportunity. There are girls and boys who strive to be the best and are proud of representing their home team here in Abbotsford.
With companies such as MSA Ford giving back to the community, residents of Abbotsford can be sure that they will see the pay-off, as our hockey players continue to develop and excel.
