Canuck Place budget hurt by short NHL season

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VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Canuck Place, which houses and helps the families of sick kids, has to come up with new ways to get donations.

The organization is facing somewhat of a tight budget this year, and it’s all thanks to the shortened NHL season.

The organization gets up to 25 per cent of its annual operating budget from the Canucks for Kids Fund, which in turn takes a cut from the 50/50 draws at home games.

“That means a lot to us when the Canucks for Kids Fund can generate those additional funds through the hockey games, some of which end up coming back to us,” says CEO Margaret McNeil. But she adds because of the lockout, they’re really hurting for donations right now.

McNeil explains they have to get creative to balance their books. “Like all organizations, we have lean times and this is one of those lean times, so our fundraising team is looking for other opportunities to raise additional funding.”

She says the damage is done, but this is a critical financial year, as a second Canuck Place facility is being built in Abbotsford.

The players have continued their support for the charity; in October, defenseman Kevin Bieksa organized and participated in a locked-out NHLers game out at UBC. The game raised money for various Canucks charities, including Canuck Place, which got a cheque for about $120,000.

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