ADVISORY - MLSE Foundation awards first Toronto Maple Leafs Community Action Grant

TORONTO, March 29, 2015 /CNW/ -

WHAT:	MLSE Foundation will surprise local non-profit Christie Ossington Neighbourhood Centre on Monday afternoon when it introduces the organization as the first winner of the $50,000 Toronto Maple Leafs Community Action Grant presented by Just Energy. The grant will be used to launch the Centre's We Nook, We Shoot, We Score initiative; a free, weekly after-school sport for development program focused on building participants' self-esteem, cooperation and life-skills through hockey training.
	Youth ages six to 12 from the Neighbourhood Centre's Nook program will be present for the announcement, followed by ball hockey and combine testing hosted by Toronto Maple Leafs hockey development coaches in celebration of We Nook, We Shoot, We Score's launch.
	The Toronto Maple Leafs Community Action Grant along with the Toronto Raptors and Toronto FC Community Action Grants are three $50,000 sport-specific prizes presented by the Just Energy Foundation that MLSE Foundation will award to non-profit organizations supporting youth sports programming in Toronto each year. In addition to the team-related grants, MLSE Foundation will also award a $50,000 grant that is not sport-specific to a chosen charitable organization. Eligible non-profits can apply for grants at mlsefoundation.org, where submissions are reviewed by a selection committee before a winner is chosen and announced at a special event in their community.
WHO:	Christie Ossington Neighbourhood Centre youth (ages six -12)
	Jennifer Irving, Program Manager, Christie Ossington Neighbourhood Centre
	Michael Bartlett, Executive Director, MLSE Foundation
	Rebecca MacDonald, Executive Chair, Just Energy
	Leafs hockey development coaches
Interview and Photo opportunities available
**Note: Media is asked to please not pre-promote this event as it is a surprise announcement
WHEN:	Monday, March 30, 2015
	4 p.m.	Announcement & cheque presentation (media set up at 3:45 p.m.)
	4:15 p.m.	Interview opportunities
	4:20 p.m.	Hockey programming begins
WHERE:	St. Raymond School
	270 Barton Avenue (parking lot on east side)
	Toronto, ON
	M6G 1R4

SOURCE Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd.

Media Contact: Akasha Di Tomasso, MLSE, 647-980-9504, [email protected]