IAM District 6, Local 388, Local 1191, Local 1010, and Local 1728 sponsored the Quad City Storm’s Salut-to-Military minor league hockey game in Moline, Ill., to raise money for Guide Dogs of America | Tender Loving Canines (GDA | TLC).
For this year’s special game honoring military service members, IAM Veterans Services Coordinator Rich Evans and Assistant Coordinator Bryan Stymacks attended after painting the ice earlier in the week with the names of the IAM veterans they’ve helped in getting more than $2 million in Veterans Affairs backpay.
“I feel privileged to give tribute to the Veterans our union has helped by recognizing them on the ice,” said Evans. “Being able to honor each of their names was quite an experience and speaking with member volunteers about what our union has done for each and every one of them is a feeling like no other.”
Dozens of IAM District 6, Local 388, Local 1191, Local 1010, and Local 1728 volunteers painted thousands of names of active duty, veteran, and passed service members from all branches of the military.
IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Sam Cicinelli and IAM District 6 Directing Business Representative Pam Gonzales were honored with dropping the puck to start the game.
The district and locals sponsored the Storm’s custom, one-of-a-kind IAM and GDA/TLC-branded jerseys, which were signed and auctioned after the game.
“We ask everyone here interested in these terrific jerseys to please participate, be generous, bid high, and let us raise money to assist in supporting this incredible organization, Guide Dogs of America/Tender Loving Canines,” said Cicinelli to open the auction.
Now, replica jerseys are for sale online for a limited time; fifty percent of the proceeds go directly to GDA/TLC.
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IAM volunteers sold foam pucks for “chuck a puck,” where spectators can throw pucks onto the ice to win prizes from different businesses. They also handed out free IAM Veterans and GDA/TLC branded “thunder sticks” to the first 1,000 attendees and sold raffle tickets for a jersey.
Sponsoring a Quad City Storm game is a GDA/TLC fundraising tradition for the IAM Midwest Territory, District 6 and it’s Locals that members look forward to every year,” said Cicinelli. “We were thrilled to be offered the opportunity to sponsor the Storm’s popular Military Night before Veterans Day. The IAM recognizes and honors the service of all Veterans, so this is a perfect fit. The Midwest Territory would like to thank the District 6 volunteers and IAM Veterans Representatives Rich Evans and Bryan Stymacks helping to paint the ice with the Veterans names for this special game.”
Approximately 625 IAM members were in the crowd for the Salute-to-Military night, and many participated in the post-game live player jersey auction.
Returning for the third year, guide dog recipient Susie Halverson attended as a special guest with her guide dog.
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Funds raised from the live auction, chuck-a-puck, jersey raffle and replica jersey sales will be totaled and announced shortly after jersey sales end on Dec. 1, 2024.
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