New York, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Boston's Patrice Bergeron, San Jose's Brent Burns and Chicago's Duncan Keith have been selected as finalists for the NHL's Foundation Award, which recognizes a player for his charity and community work.
Bergeron has a program called "Patrice's Pals," which provides children from various youth organizations the opportunity to watch Bruins home games from a luxury suite and meet Bergeron following the game. Among the charities that have participated are Boston Children's Hospital, Defending the Blue Line, Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center, Franciscan Hospital for Children, The Jimmy Fund, The Home for Little Wanderers and Massachusetts General Hospital.
Burns has donated more than $1 million to Defending the Blue Line, which provides children of military families the opportunity to play hockey. He hosts a "Burnzie's Battalion" suite at SAP Center each season for Defending the Blue Line, and his hockey equipment drives are the organization's most lucrative fundraisers each year.
Keith, with his wife, has a charity called "Keith Relief," which assists others by alleviating some of the financial and emotional burdens of families and individuals during times of medical crises. It has raised more than $250,000 through benefit concerts since 2012, with all proceeds benefiting the organization as well as Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana.
The NHL Foundation will present $25,000 to the chosen charitable organization of this year's recipient.
First presented in 1998, this year's winner will be announced during the NHL's awards program on June 24 in Las Vegas.
[SportsNetwork.com]
