Red Deer, AB - On Tuesday, November 26 Curtis Glencross and representatives from the Glencross Invitational Charity Roughstock Event presented by the Calgary Flames and Penn West Exploration formally announced the final total of funds generated this past August while presenting cheques to the two beneficiaries of the event.
The charity rodeo took place on Friday, August 23 at the Daines Ranch near Innisfail, Alberta with all proceeds directed to Ronald McDonald House® Central Alberta and the Hockey Alberta Foundation and its Every Kid Every Community program. Over $280,000 was raised; $112,000 of the proceeds directed to the Hockey Alberta Foundation and $168,000 to Ronald McDonald House Central Alberta.
“It is incredible to see what this hard work has gone towards. These are two amazing charities that I have been privileged to work with,” says Curtis Glencross. “I truly look forward to growing this event for years to come and am proud of the direction it is heading.”
The rodeo featured bull, bronc and bareback riding with some of North America’s most accomplished riders. Prior to the rodeo a poker tournament was held in Red Deer for event sponsors at The Hideout located in Gasoline Alley.
Youth hockey support will be directed through The Hockey Alberta Foundation’s Every Kid Every Community program and the newly created, Glencross Legacy Fund .The Every Kid Every Community program directs grants and resources to central Alberta communities to utilize in the creation and support of programming in order to make the game more accessible for kids to play hockey. The Glencross Legacy Fund will allow Minor Hockey Associations and groups’ access to funding to cover registration fees and associated costs for kids of financial hardships who may otherwise not have the opportunity to play hockey.
“When we started thinking about planning a charity rodeo giving kids a chance to play hockey who may not have the opportunity to was one of our first priorities along with supporting the Ronald McDonald House,” says Curtis Glencross. “Having the Curtis Glencross Legacy Fund available for kids in Alberta was a huge goal of ours and one that we are thrilled to provide in partnership with the Hockey Alberta Foundation.”
“We are very blessed to be associated with the Curtis Glencross Invitational Charity Roughstock event and Ronald McDonald House Central Alberta. Although we are different organizations, we share the common goal of giving central Alberta kids and their family hope and dreams through access to programs and services they deserve,” said Executive Director of the Hockey Alberta Foundation, Scott Robinson. “Curtis and his family have demonstrated great leadership and commitment to his Alberta roots with this event and we’re proud to be connected with a great Alberta athlete and person, as well as a great charity like Ronald McDonald House.”
Ronald McDonald House® Central Alberta is prominently located facing the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre and backing on to Gaetz Avenue. A feasibility study was conducted to evaluate the need for Ronald McDonald House in Red Deer. The study revealed that there are 33,000 pediatric stays at Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre per year. One third or 11,000 of those children are from out-of-town. That’s an average of 30 out-of-town children per day. Ronald McDonald House® Central Alberta supports sick children and their families from rural communities surrounding Red Deer.
“We are very grateful to Curtis Glencross and the organizing committee for putting together such a world class event,” says Larry Mathieson, Chief Executive Officer, Ronald McDonald House® Central Alberta. “It takes $1.1 million to operate Ronald McDonald House each year and the funds raised through the Glencross Invitational Charity Roughstock help us to continue supporting sick children and their families.”