Me with Lightning star Vincent Lecavalier during a Meet n Greet this past season!(My father got tickets from a client who works for All Childrens Hospital & Vinny's Foundation I do believe!)Vincent Lecavalier. I’m sure you have probably heard the name before but what do you associate him with? People associate him with the National Hockey League’s Tampa Bay Lightning for whom he plays. However, Lecavalier is more than just a hockey player in the Tampa Bay Area. Some might consider him a role model for all. He gives up a portion of his time and money to help children in Tampa Bay who are battling cancer and other types of blood disorders. According to Liz Willyoung, Executive Director of the Vinny Lecavalier Foundation, “Since early teens, Vinny has spent numerous summers working with physically challenged youth and at summer camps and as a result knew that later in life he would want to create a more formal program to give back and create a legacy in his name.”
Lecavalier’s on-ice statistics with the Lightning are enough to turn many heads around the NHL and in the community. According to vinny4.com, “Lecavalier ranked 9th among NHL rookies in points with 28, 8th in goals with 13 and 5th in shots with 125 in 1998-99. He also had a goal and two assists on February 12th, 2004, tying Brian Bradley for most career points with the Lightning and hitting 300 career points.” Lecavalier also, according to vinny4.com, “set new career playoff highs in games played, goals, assists, penalty minutes, power play goals and shots during the 2004 playoffs.” He did all this while helping to lead the Lightning past the New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers and culminating with a hard fought seven game series win over the Calgary Flames before capturing Lord Stanley’s Cup, the Lightning’s first ever. According to vinny4.com, “ Three seasons later in 2005-06’, Lecavalier set another record by notching 52 goals and 108 points, both a franchise best, leading to him capturing the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy given to the NHL’s goal-scoring leader.”
However, Lecavalier’s off-ice contributions to the community, in particular through his Foundation entitled the Vinny Lecavalier Foundation, are far more significant. According to Bill Varian in an October 17th, 2007 St. Petersburg Times article, “Since 2003, Lecavalier, in partnership with Kane’s Furniture, has donated nearly $70,000 to All Children’s Hospital, giving $1,000 for every goal he scores and $300 for each assist.” Even larger than this, however, was his 3-million dollar contribution through his Foundation toward the construction of a Pediatric Cancer Center at All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg. According to Willyoung, Executive Director of the Vinny Lecavalier Foundation, “Vinny and his foundation devoted two years to researching and meeting with local charities seeking a project deserving of a major, multi million dollar commitment. The Foundation hosted close to 30 different charities, and more than 800 youth and families at a Lightning home game during a two to three year period. The Foundation narrowed the search and ultimately made three site visits prior to selecting the Vinny Lecavalier Pediatric Cancer Center at All Children’s.”
Lecavalier planned to use a few different ways to raise the money that will go toward constructing the Vincent Lecavalier Pediatric Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at All Children’s Hospital. According to Varian in his October 17th, 2007 news article, “Lecavalier, along with ‘legacy partners’ in his Foundation, including Kane’s Furniture and DEX Imaging, will provide more than half the money and the remainder of the money will be raised in community fundraising efforts, such as Lecavalier’s annual Texas Hold Em’ Celebrity Poker Tournament at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.” Lecavalier’s Cancer Center will be located in half of the seventh floor of the new All Children’s Hospital which will open in fall 2009. It will also, according to vinny4.com, “include 28 individual patient rooms with accommodations that will allow parents to stay in their child’s room. There is also a HEPA filtered positive pressure airflow system that will allow those patients with a suppressed immune system to move freely throughout the center.”
Lecavalier’s giving goes far beyond what he has accomplished on the ice. He has not only brought a smile to the faces and won the hearts of many Lightning fans by playing his heart out every game, easily making him the face of the franchise. His off ice contributions also help to make Lecavalier so popular among those in the community and most likely a name that Lightning fans and players alike will not quickly forget, even after his career with Tampa Bay is over.
According to Vincent Lecavalier, “I love kids-and I love the Tampa Bay Area so this is a cause with great meaning to me,” explained Lecavalier, who hosts the families of children with cancer in his VIP suite at several Lightning home games each season. “I’ve been fortunate to get to know some of these families. It’s sad whenever you see kids that are sick. Coming to the games is an opportunity to put a smile on their faces but this is a chance to leave a legacy for them and so many others like them for years to come.”
Lecavalier’s on-ice statistics with the Lightning are enough to turn many heads around the NHL and in the community. According to vinny4.com, “Lecavalier ranked 9th among NHL rookies in points with 28, 8th in goals with 13 and 5th in shots with 125 in 1998-99. He also had a goal and two assists on February 12th, 2004, tying Brian Bradley for most career points with the Lightning and hitting 300 career points.” Lecavalier also, according to vinny4.com, “set new career playoff highs in games played, goals, assists, penalty minutes, power play goals and shots during the 2004 playoffs.” He did all this while helping to lead the Lightning past the New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers and culminating with a hard fought seven game series win over the Calgary Flames before capturing Lord Stanley’s Cup, the Lightning’s first ever. According to vinny4.com, “ Three seasons later in 2005-06’, Lecavalier set another record by notching 52 goals and 108 points, both a franchise best, leading to him capturing the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy given to the NHL’s goal-scoring leader.”
However, Lecavalier’s off-ice contributions to the community, in particular through his Foundation entitled the Vinny Lecavalier Foundation, are far more significant. According to Bill Varian in an October 17th, 2007 St. Petersburg Times article, “Since 2003, Lecavalier, in partnership with Kane’s Furniture, has donated nearly $70,000 to All Children’s Hospital, giving $1,000 for every goal he scores and $300 for each assist.” Even larger than this, however, was his 3-million dollar contribution through his Foundation toward the construction of a Pediatric Cancer Center at All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg. According to Willyoung, Executive Director of the Vinny Lecavalier Foundation, “Vinny and his foundation devoted two years to researching and meeting with local charities seeking a project deserving of a major, multi million dollar commitment. The Foundation hosted close to 30 different charities, and more than 800 youth and families at a Lightning home game during a two to three year period. The Foundation narrowed the search and ultimately made three site visits prior to selecting the Vinny Lecavalier Pediatric Cancer Center at All Children’s.”
Lecavalier planned to use a few different ways to raise the money that will go toward constructing the Vincent Lecavalier Pediatric Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at All Children’s Hospital. According to Varian in his October 17th, 2007 news article, “Lecavalier, along with ‘legacy partners’ in his Foundation, including Kane’s Furniture and DEX Imaging, will provide more than half the money and the remainder of the money will be raised in community fundraising efforts, such as Lecavalier’s annual Texas Hold Em’ Celebrity Poker Tournament at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.” Lecavalier’s Cancer Center will be located in half of the seventh floor of the new All Children’s Hospital which will open in fall 2009. It will also, according to vinny4.com, “include 28 individual patient rooms with accommodations that will allow parents to stay in their child’s room. There is also a HEPA filtered positive pressure airflow system that will allow those patients with a suppressed immune system to move freely throughout the center.”
Lecavalier’s giving goes far beyond what he has accomplished on the ice. He has not only brought a smile to the faces and won the hearts of many Lightning fans by playing his heart out every game, easily making him the face of the franchise. His off ice contributions also help to make Lecavalier so popular among those in the community and most likely a name that Lightning fans and players alike will not quickly forget, even after his career with Tampa Bay is over.
According to Vincent Lecavalier, “I love kids-and I love the Tampa Bay Area so this is a cause with great meaning to me,” explained Lecavalier, who hosts the families of children with cancer in his VIP suite at several Lightning home games each season. “I’ve been fortunate to get to know some of these families. It’s sad whenever you see kids that are sick. Coming to the games is an opportunity to put a smile on their faces but this is a chance to leave a legacy for them and so many others like them for years to come.”
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