Holy Cross Services, Cristo Rey are primary recipients of funds raised
(LANSING) – The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 665 and the Lansing Division of the National Electrical Contractors Association are sponsoring the 2018 MSU Spartans versus the Detroit Red Wings alumni hockey game.
The sixth annual event will take place at Munn Ice Arena Dec. 16 at 1 p.m. Last year’s game was a huge success with more than 4,000 fans attending, and $25,000 raised for local charities. The game is a family event with tickets priced at $6 presale ($7 at the door) for adults and $3 presale ($4 at the door) for children. All proceeds go to local charities.
“We’re so proud to be supporting this event, which will raise funds to help the most vulnerable people in our community,” said Tom Eastwood, business manager for IBEW 665. “As union contractors and electricians, we not only look out for our union brothers and sisters, we look out for everyone in our community and try to help out wherever we can.”
Former Red Wings and MSU star Kevin Miller, who organizes the game each year, said he’s still working on the lineup, but so it will include Kip Miller, Drew Miller, Joe Kocur, Mike Knuble, Darren McCarty, Jason Woolley and Larry Murphy.
“The game is a great way to have fun and give back to two amazing benefactors,” Miller said. “Holy Cross Services and Cristo Rey Community Center do so much for the local people in need of food, housing and medical services. Having fun and giving back this time of the year makes this event a win-win!”
Miller said 80 percent of the funds would go to Cristo Rey Community Center and Holy Cross Services, which recently assumed responsibility for programs previously run by the Volunteers Of America. The rest of the proceeds will support other local charities.
“We believe it’s important to give back to the communities that support our local businesses,” said Bryan Benton, Assistant Manager, Michigan Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association. “We encourage everyone to come out and enjoy the game while supporting these worthy organizations.”
Holy Cross Services, founded in 1948, touches the lives of approximately 1,500 people every day across Michigan who are abused, neglected, traumatized, and/or who suffer from substance abuse and mental health issues. Plus, as of Oct. 1, 2018, HCS serves over 7,000 homeless veterans, adults and children in Lansing.
Beginning Oct. 1, Volunteers of America Michigan transferred the VOAMI Lansing facility and operations to Holy Cross Services, now named the “New Hope Community Center” located at 430 N. Larch St. in Lansing.
“It is part of Holy Cross Services' mission to take care of the vulnerable and taking over the Lansing homeless services fit very naturally in our mission," says Sharon Berkobien, Holy Cross Services' CEO. "We are very proud and excited for this new addition.”
Cristo Rey Community Center (CRCC) provides access to food, medical care, counseling and financial empowerment services. For the past 50 years, CRCC has been helping meet the needs of the poor, vulnerable, immigrants, migrants, and all people in need regardless of language or culture.
Less than 4 percent of Lansing residents live within a 10-minute walk to the grocery store. For community members who lack transportation or have financial constraints, having access to healthy food can be a challenge. To combat this issue, CRCC has served over 20,000 meals and provided over 320,000 pounds of food to those in need this past year.
“We generally think of the holidays as a happy time filled with joy, food, and surrounding ourselves with those we love. For some of our community members, however, this is not the case,” said Joe Garcia, CRCC Executive Director. “This is the time of the year where we need to lean in and help our brothers and sisters who are struggling to make it through these next few months, whether it looks like a warm smile or a hot meal.”
Tickets are available at all 30 Quality Dairy locations. Tickets are also available at the door the day of the game. For more information including a full list of sponsors, please visit www.spartanwingsgame.com. IBEW 665 and NECA sponsor dozens of events, organizations and causes throughout midMichigan every year. For more information, visit www.ibew665.org and www.mineca.org.