By Cindy Himes
The Pittsburgh Penguins organization, the National Hockey League and the entire country are celebrating the contributions made by amazing women throughout March during Gender Equality Month. And, although the celebration is underway, it certainly has weeks of festivities ahead.
The Penguins kicked off the month’s initiative with Her Hockey Day presented by 84 Lumber on March 7. In partnership with Allegheny County Parks, the day included Try Her Hockey for Free clinics presented by DICK’s Sporting Goods at North and South Parks for girls five to 13 years old. Women from the Penguins organization and Allegheny County Parks provided hockey instruction to over 60 attendees.
DICK’s Sporting Goods, the team’s corporate partner, also presented the Penguins Foundation’s Her Hockey Day Auction with proceeds benefitting the Foundation’s girls hockey initiatives. The specialty auction features a wide variety of women’s hockey memorabilia including Team USA women’s items, a Team Canada signed jersey, works by female artists and a host of Penguins memorabilia. The auction launched on Her Hockey Day and wraps up this Sunday, March 14 at 12:00 pm. Visit the auction today at pens.givesmart.com or by texting PENS to 76278.
On Her Hockey Day, the Penguins Foundation also hosted a social media #HerHockey contest. Fans were encouraged to share their own #HerHockey story on March 7. Contest winners received signed Penguins jerseys. Fans can read the #HerHockey entries by visiting that hashtag.
Penguins corporate partner 84 Lumber is sponsoring a LIFT (Leading & Inspiring Females to Thrive) EmpowerHER Grant of $25,000 for a deserving Western PA woman-owned business. Nominations are being accepted through March 18 at www.pittsburghpenguins.com/empowerhergrant. A Penguins and 84 Lumber internal panel will select the top three finalists and Penguins fans will ultimately select the overall winning business.
The LIFT platform will also feature a Women’s Virtual Panel Discussion on March 22 at 6:30 pm. It is open to the public and participants must register in advance at https://pittsburghpenguins.formstack.com/forms/l_i_f_t_virtual_panel. Guest panelists will include Amy Smiley, 84 Lumber Vice President of Marketing; Laura Karet, Giant Eagle, Inc. President & CEO; and Jenny Darling, Penguins Chief Financial Officer; among other high-level executives.
Fans will have an opportunity to learn more about the women of the Penguins organization this month as the team will honor their own with Staff Profiles live on social media. In addition, PensGear will be donating 10% of all ladies and girls items purchased to the Penguins Foundation for girls hockey programming in the greater Pittsburgh area.
Join the Penguins this month in celebrating the accomplishments of girls and women you may know who persisted to achieve success. We most certainly salute you!