The Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation began operations in the latter half of 2005.  Its mission is to impact the lives of underserved youth in the Greater Philadelphia region by providing opportunities to play ice hockey, offering programs that incorporate on-ice and off-ice activities. The philosophy is to give children of varying ethnic and economic backgrounds opportunities to develop life-enhancing values such as teamwork, positive self-esteem, and the importance of hard work and respect to achieve individual goals and success.

Partnership with the School District of Philadelphia

The Foundation partnered with the School District of Philadelphia in a Learn to Play Hockey program provided to elementary and middle school boys and girls during the school day as part of their physical education curriculum. 

To introduce ice hockey to these girls and boys, the Foundation provides:

• Protective equipment
• Ice time at several Philadelphia ice rinks
• Experienced coaching

To ensure their character development, the Foundation also: 

• Introduces and discusses "Words of the Week," which include citizenship and life skills topics
• Provides reading materials each session to help link their personal hockey activities to other subjects and the world outside their immediate communities
• Offers schools opportunities for field trips and attendance at professional hockey games at no cost

Additional Programming

Students are also given opportunities to follow-up with Learn to Play Hockey classes offered at the host rinks.  The weekend classes are part of each facility’s regular programming, and the Foundation funds entry fees and provides protective equipment and skates for each participant.

Expanding the Foundation's Reach

This season, the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation is building upon our initial activities:

• Offering school district sessions and learn to play enrollments at four (4) primary rinks in and near Philadelphia schools (with the addition of the Skating Rink at Old York Road this season).
• Initiating support to the established programming at the five (5) Philadelphia Department of Recreation Rinks.
• Expanding to serve 6th, 7th, and 8th graders and have initiated three (3) Philadelphia District Middle School teams.

By providing more opportunities for students to continue to play hockey once introduced to the sport and by introducing even more students to the program, the Foundation will continue to work with teachers and parents to help students succeed on the ice, in the classroom, and in life.