SERENIA LIFE FINANCIAL TEAMS UP TO RAISE FUNDS FOR HOCKEY HELPS THE HOMELESS FOR 5TH YEAR
The hockey tournament will be held on October 27 at RIM Park, with proceeds supporting six local non-profits
WATERLOO, ON | OCTOBER 19, 2023 — Serenia Life Financial, a member-based organization providing life insurance and investment solutions across Canada, is once again taking part in Waterloo’s annual Hockey Helps the Homeless event. In its 10th year, the event involves 16 teams that participate in a hockey tournament in support of local organizations combatting homelessness. Each team consists of an NHL alumni, 14 amateur skaters, and a goalie, playing five-on-five games throughout the tournament.
This year’s proceeds will go towards supporting House of Friendship, YW Kitchener-Waterloo, oneROOF Youth Services, Lutherwood’s Safe Haven, Cambridge Shelter Corporation, and The Working Centre. These agencies help people struggling with homelessness find the right resources to access shelter, job opportunities, and much more.
“We are honoured to be part of this enriching community initiative that helps people in need right here in Waterloo Region,” says Serenia Life President and CEO Glenn Hymers. “Our enduring commitment as an organization is to foster genuine human kindness. This tournament is an exciting way to fulfill that mission while also having fun on the ice with friends and colleagues.”
Serenia Life Financial has sponsored a tournament team since 2019. Since that time, the company has raised over $50,000 for local charitable organizations through Hockey Helps the Homeless fundraising. This year, Serenia Life is also sponsoring the Country Music Night Fundraiser concert, scheduled to take place on Friday, October 20th. The concert is a double tribute fundraiser to country legends Alabama and the Zac Brown Band.
Hockey Helps the Homeless has raised over $1.9 million over its 10-year span, which equates to nearly 25,000 shelter bed nights. Given the recent affordability challenges that have impacted Canadians, this support is essential to ensuring the safety and well-being of the most vulnerable members of the Kitchener-Waterloo community.
“Our participation in this tournament gives us the unique opportunity to meet people who are directly benefiting from our fundraising efforts,” says Duane Zappitelli, Vice President of Sales and Distribution for Serenia Life Financial. “Their stories are so important to helping us understand lived experiences and helping to change society for the better.”
The number of people experiencing chronic homelessness in Waterloo Region has grown by 129 per cent since the beginning of 2020, and is on track to triple by 2028. In a recent Region of Waterloo report, more than 1,000 individuals were found to be experiencing homelessness, with over 500 estimated to be experiencing chronic homelessness.
To date, the Serenia Life hockey team has raised $7,000 for this year’s event, and are still actively encouraging donations.
Anyone interested in supporting the team can make a donation until the campaign ends. Individuals can also show their support by purchasing tickets for the Hockey Helps the Homeless Mega Raffle, where the grand prize is four tickets to a hockey game in Nashville, plus $5,000 for travel costs.
ABOUT SERENIA LIFE FINANCIAL
Serenia Life Financial is a member-based organization that provides insurance and investment solutions to more than 33,000 members across Canada. The business manages assets of $350 million, and had $3.6 billion of in-force insurance as of December 31, 2022. Serenia Life is committed to re-investing a portion of their earnings into community outreach and unique member benefits that support members, their families, and the causes they care about. They’re on a mission to prove a business can be kind and to inspire generosity in their employees, their members, and the communities they serve.
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