The mission of Shjon Podein's Children's Foundation is to improve the quality of life and create an environment of caring and community support for children facing extraordinary difficulties in their lives. The children, their families, our board and volunteers, sponsors and celebrities all work together in our efforts to accomplish this mission. TOGETHER we are Team 25.
The Shjon Podein Children's Foundation was established in 1997 by former NHL player and Minnesota native Shjon Podein. Shjon saw a group of children who were unable to experience hockey due to physical and mental impairments and wanted to design a program to allow these children to enjoy the sport of hockey in their own way.
TEAM 25 has been an unqualified success! Plans include growing this elementary Adaptive Floor Hockey Program (grades 3-8) into communities throughout the State of Minnesota and expand to other states across the USA.
GOALS OF TEAM 25:
- Provide opportunities for physically and mentally disadvantaged children to participate in the sport of hockey at their own ability level.
- Add extracurricular activities for children with disabilities within their own communities.
- Design elementary school programs that feed into existing high school programs.
- Design elementary school programs that feed into existing high school programs.
- Improve self-image and create a positive attitude in children.
How Does TEAM 25 Work?
TEAM 25 is a means of introducing children to the sport of Adaptive Floor Hockey. We conduct one to two week summer floor hockey camps in various communities throughout Minnesota. The children are given basic skills training, run drills and have daily scrimmages.
The camps give many mentally or physically handicapped kids, between 3rd and 12th grade, a way to experience a competitive sports environment - many for the first time. Perhaps even more importantly, it gives the older children who have played the game before, an opportunity to act as a coach, mentor and role model to the younger children.
Each child receives all necessary equipment, hockey stick, puck, hockey jersey, coaching, and a fun experience! In most cases, all the costs of these programs (including gym rental, coaches, and any special needs providers) are covered by our foundation so the children can attend camps free of charge.
We have been told by numerous parents: "This is the greatest thing my child has ever been exposed to, it's also the most fun he/she has ever had!"
How You Can Help!
As part of our commitment to donors, we have been diligent in reducing the costs for the program by staggering camps in order to share equipment between communities. Based on these efforts, our program spends on average $125.00 per child.
You Can Help By:
- Providing a full scholarship for a child ($125) or any amount you are willing to give.
- Donating equipment to our programs.
- Helping with your time and energy by volunteering to help a team.
For Cash Donations:
Please make check payable to SPCF or Team 25 and mail to:
SPCF, Box 6482
Rochester, MN 55903.
Visit our web site at: www.Team25.com
To Learn More About Us Contact:
Jim Renn
Box 6482, Rochester, MN 55903
507-288-4941
jim.renn@rbcdain.com
For more information visit their web site: www.Team25.com Visit our facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Team-25/61073396414?v=wall
Who is Shjon Podein?
Shjon is a native of Rochester, Minnesota. He started playing hockey at the age of five on outdoor rinks in Rochester and to help hone his hockey skills, played youth soccer in the off-season. Shjon played high school hockey for the Rochester John Marshall Rockets. He graduated in 1986 and headed for the University of Minnesota Duluth to play with the Bulldogs. During his first year, he also played junior hockey with the Rochester (MN) Mustangs.
He was an eighth round pick of the Edmonton Oilers during the 1988 NHL Draft and spent three years in the American Hockey League (AHL) before making his debut with Oilers in 1992. In 1994, Podein signed with the Philadelphia Flyers where he eventually helped lead the Flyers to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1997. Later in his career, Podein was traded to the Colorado Avalanche where he eventually helped lead the Avs' to their first ever Stanley Cup Championship during the 2000-01 season.
That same season, Podein took home the King Clancy Trophy for his leadership role and off-ice contributions. Podein ended his NHL career in 2003 before spending three years playing pro hockey in Europe. He hung up his skates for good in 2006.
Podein is very active in the community and created the "Shjon Podein Children's Foundation" back in 1997 to help kids facing extraordinary difficulties in their lives. You can find more information on his website: www.Team25.com
Podein also became active with two inner-city youth ice hockey programs (Denver Cubs and Minneapolis Dinomights) that are designed to introduce ice hockey to low-income, inner-city children. Shjon became the first NHL player to join the "Garth Brooks Teammates For Kids Foundation," an organization that contributes monies to non-profits who effectively serve and benefit children in areas of health, education, and inner city services. Shjon is pleased to be an NHL spokesperson for the Teammates for Kids Foundation and is active in recruiting other NHL players to the program.
For more information visit the TEAM 25 web site: www.Team25.com Visit their facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Team-25/61073396414?v=wall
