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GREEN YOUTH SPORTS ALLIANCE AND CHANGE THE COURSE PARTNER WITH ASU AND UMASS TO HELP RESTORE MORE THAN 500,000 GALLONS OF FRESHWATER IN AZ
Text Promotion Celebrating Green Sports Day (Oct 6, 2017) engaged fans to support their school in friendly competition
(Minneapolis, MN) October 11, 2017 -- Arizona State University (ASU) and University of Massachusetts (UMass) hockey programs partnered with the Green Youth Sports Alliance (GYSA) and Bonneville Environmental Foundation’s (BEF) Change the Course to leverage their on-ice competition this past weekend in Tempe, Arizona to encourage fans to take action in support of restoring freshwater to critically depleted ecosystems across the state of Arizona.
Fans were encouraged via social media to DEFEND THE ICE, a GYSA campaign, by texting a short code with ASU or UMASS to make a pledge towards water conservation. For each text, Change the Course matched each pledge with 1,000 gallons of freshwater restored in recognition of the second annual Green Sports Day.
What is believed to be the first promotion by college hockey programs to restore freshwater directly associated with offsetting their consumption, the schools generated 506,000 gallons! UMass led the way with 328,000 gallons vs. ASU’s 178,000.
BEF’s Change the Course is a first-of-its-kind initiative that brings together the public, corporations, and on the-ground conservation organizations to raise awareness about freshwater issues, reduce water footprints, and directly support water restoration projects. To date, Change the Course has supported over 40 water restoration projects across 11 U.S. States and Mexico, engaged over 40 corporate partners, and restored over 8 billion gallons of water.
GYSA’s DEFEND THE ICE is committed to supporting healthy ecosystems that foster recreation and youth participating in hockey. As a sport, since hockey is dependent on ice and ice is made from water, it is critical for all stakeholders to encourage water conversation, educate fans of the freshwater scarcity and engage fans to make a difference which is the central mission of DEFEND THE ICE.
Anthony Raiola, former UMass Hockey Player and Program Director of Green Youth Sports Alliance, was inspired learning of the NHL Gallons for Goals initiative. He felt compelled to create an effort to rally college hockey to reach out to a broader hockey community, pee wee to pro, in a collective effort to “DEFEND THE ICE. CHANGE THE COURSE”.
"Born and raised in Minnesota, I grew up playing on frozen lakes and ponds with many of my childhood friends who are now playing in the NHL," said Raiola. "We often talk about the next generation of youth players that may not get to enjoy the outdoor hockey pickup games we did as climate change is adversely impacting the freezing of the lakes and ponds. This is our time to do something about this reality. So let’s unite to conserve this most valuable resource and restore the freshwater we consume."
“A thriving environment with water for people, business, and rivers is critical to every community where sport is played,” said Sara Hoversten, Director of Corporate Partnerships at Bonneville Environmental Foundation. “That is why the Change the Course was thrilled to work with GYSA, ASU and UMass to leverage the influence of the sport of hockey and encourage fans to be stewards of our communities and the natural environment.”
“At Arizona State University, our goal each and every year is to push the envelope on and off the field of play, and our university certainly signifies that in our dedication to sustainability on a national and global scale,” said Vice President for Arizona State University Athletics Ray Anderson. “As the first university in the United States to create a school devoted to sustainability, we feel it is our responsibility to continue to raise the bar.”
“For the last three years the University of Massachusetts has been ranked one of the top 50 most environmentally responsible colleges by The Princeton Review, so we were excited to partner with the Sun Devils, the GYSA and the BEF to help ‘DEFEND THE ICE,’” said UMass Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford. “I am so proud that our fans and the UMass hockey community were able to come together to make such a significant impact on a crucial issue facing Arizona.”
For the latest news on GYSA, follow them on Twitter (@GreenYouthSport) and Instagram (@GreenYouthSports). For more info on GYSA’s DEFEND THE ICE, follow them on Twitter (@DefendTheIce) and Instagram (@DefendTheIce)
For latest news on Change the Course, follow them on Twitter (@ChangeTheCourse) and Instagram (@ChangeTheCourseUS) and on Facebook at facebook.com/ChangeTheCourse
For coverage of ASU hockey, follow the team on Twitter (@SunDevilHockey) and Instagram (@SunDevilHockey) and on Facebook at facebook.com/ASUhockey
For coverage of UMass hockey, follow the team on Twitter (@UMassHockey) and Instagram (@UMassHockey) and on Facebook at facebook.com/UMassHockey