ST PAUL, MN—November 1, 2021 — Hiway Hockey Kids4Kids, an award-winning community initiative that encourages youth hockey players throughout Minnesota to raise funds for kids with disabilities and complex medical conditions, returns for a fourth season after the program was paused in 2020-21 due to COVID. The innovative program is a collaboration between Hiway Credit Union® (Hiway), the Minnesota Wild, Wild Alternate Captain Matt Dumba, Minnesota Hockey and Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare in Saint Paul. Since the program’s inception, dozens of teams and hundreds of youth hockey players have raised over $75,000 for Gillette Children’s.

Hiway Hockey Kids4Kids inspires youth hockey teams to community service by encouraging them to develop creative fundraisers on behalf of Gillette Children’s and help kids who may not be able to play hockey due to complex medical conditions or injuries. Teams that raise $500 or more will be qualified to win a one-of-a-kind team party in a suite at the Minnesota Wild – Colorado Avalanche game on Sunday, March 27, 2022. The winning team, selected at random, will also engage in an exclusive post-game video chat with members of the Minnesota Wild and receive merchandise from the Wild and Hiway. All teams that participate in the program will be invited to complimentary skate sessions at the Xcel Energy Center. Each member of any team that raises at least $500 will also receive a limited-edition Minnesota Wild-Hockey Kids4Kids branded cap. 

Hiway Hockey Kids4Kids has been honored with the statewide Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Community Service Award. The award, sponsored by the Minnesota Credit Union Network (MnCUN) and the Credit Union National Association (CUNA), recognizes credit unions for the activities they coordinate that benefit their community or a specific charity. It has been considered by Children’s Miracle Network for a potential national roll-out.   

“Serving our community and helping others can start at an early age,” said Hiway President and CEO Dave Boden. “Volunteering helps athletes understand the power and joy of community service.  Hiway is thrilled to have young teammates across the state helping us support the great work being done for kids at Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare.” 

“The Hiway Hockey Kids4Kids Program is an awesome initiative,” said Matt Majka, President of the Minnesota Wild. “We are excited to continue to support this program and encourage all youth hockey teams to participate and help build a greater state of hockey.”

“Gillette Children’s is deeply grateful for the ongoing partnership with Hiway Credit Union, the Minnesota Wild, Matt Dumba, Minnesota Hockey and young hockey players across Minnesota through Hiway Hockey Kids4Kids.” said Barbara Joers, President and CEO of Gillette Children’s. “Their generosity through this incredible program provides vital support so we can continue to advocate and care for children from across Minnesota and around the world.”

Hiway Hockey Kids4Kids will run from Monday November 1, 2021 through Friday March 11, 2022. Any youth hockey team that is governed by the Minnesota State High School League and/or Minnesota Hockey, the official governing board of youth hockey in the state, is eligible to participate. Details and registration information can be found at hockeykids4kids.org.

Participating teams and donors can help spread the word about the campaign via social media using the hashtag #hockeykids4kids.

ABOUT HIWAY CREDIT UNION
Hiway Credit Union was founded in 1931 to serve the employees of the Minnesota Highway Department. Today, Hiway serves an expanded member base, with over 80,000 members in Minnesota and nationwide, registers $1.6 billion in assets and welcomes new membership from individuals and small businesses. Hiway offers its members unparalleled service and value “on the road of life” through lower loan rates, higher savings rates and fewer and lower fees. Hiway also operates four high school branches at Como, Harding, Highland and Johnson High Schools in St. Paul.  For more information about Hiway, visit hiway.org.

ABOUT GILLETTE CHILDREN’S SPECIALTY HEALTHCARE
Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare cares for patients who have some of the most complex, rare and traumatic conditions in pediatric medicine, including cerebral palsy, epilepsy, spina bifida, fibula hemimelia, proximal femoral focal deficiency, and hydrocephalus. Children who have disabilities and complex medical needs—and their families—have been at the center of our mission for nearly 125 years. Learn more about how we’ve built on our long history to set the standard of care for some of the most challenging childhood conditions at www.gillettechildrens.org.