Extra Special partnership with Bruins
The Bruins’ iconic spoked “B” logo conveniently lent itself to many catch phrases over the years and yesterday the club unveiled a new one — “B” Inclusive.
That saying, emblazoned on Tshirts worn by athletes at a Garden press conference, was rolled out as the Boston Bruins Foundation announced its three-year partnership and pledge of $1 million to the Special Olympics Massachusetts, the largest donation the foundation has made since its inception in 2002.
Delaware North Boston Holdings CEO Charlie Jacobs said he sat down after last season with foundation president Bob Sweeney and a group of advisers to devise a plan to best help it impact the community. Donating to the Special Olympics, the brainchild of Eunice Shriver that is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, made the most sense.
“(Special Olympics is) about inclusion, and this seems like a great time to step up and activate with them,” said Jacobs. “We’ve got some Massachusetts athletes that work here at the TD Garden that participate in the competitions and it was great to have them here. But it’s about the messaging, it’s about inclusion and I also hope that our players identify with this.”
Sweeney said that the partnership will kick off at the Bruins’ annual golf tournament next week at the International in Bolton, where a Special Olympian will tee off the first drive of the day. He said there will be ongoing events throughout the year.
“That really sets the tone for what this relationship is going to be,” said Sweeney, a former Bruins player. “It’s not only going to be writing a check, which we all can do, but it’s going to be having our players interact with their athletes. Some of our employees already volunteer at Special Olympic events. If you haven’t seen a Special Olympic event, I really challenge you to go out and watch one and see them compete because not only do they have passion and commitment but they have so much fun doing it.”
Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask and defenseman Matt Grzelcyk are looking forward to being as involved as they can be. Grzelcyk has some experience in dealing with challenged athletes.
“It’s really inspiring,” he said. “When I was in school (at Boston University), we dealt with Autism Speaks, which was one of our sponsors, and I’ve kind of seen that first hand over the years, gone to some of the events. And they leave it all out there. And whenever we see them, they’re always talking about sports.
“I think the partnership makes a lot of sense and I’m happy to be a part of it.”
Sweeney also said he expects there will be a health and wellness component to the partnership as well.
“That’s a work in progress,” said Sweeney. “The Special Olympics has a health and wellness director with (former Bruins’ strength coach) John Whitesides, who has been with the Foundation for two years now running the B-Fit program. We’ll collaborate with them and try to get their athletes a little bit healthier. I think it’s to be determined what that path will take, but I think this will be a minimum three-year relationship, but I envision this being a long-term relationship for us.”
Bruins notes
Construction in front of North Station on a residential/retail building is still very much an active site, but Jacobs still hopes Bruins fans will be able to enter the Garden through the front of the building on Causeway Street when the home schedule kicks off Oct. 8.
“That’s our goal. I don’t want to put my foot in my mouth come October, but that’s what we’re shooting for,” said Jacobs.
For most of the new Garden’s two decade-plus existence, the only thing in front of the arena was a parking lot. But the end of the construction of The Hub on Causeway, a development that will include office space and retail and entertainment venues, is in sight.
“If I go away on a Friday and come back on Monday, it looks like a different project,” said Jacobs. “We’re 12 months away from being finished and a reality, which is amazing.”