Roughriders share elation over success of Foundation
12/31/2024 08:18 PM
Green and White highlights from 2024 were not restricted to touchdowns, tackles and triumphs.
The Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation — the CFL team's charitable arm — also celebrated a string of successes.
"I've never seen a year like we had this year," Roughriders President-CEO Craig Reynolds marvels. "This is the most community activity we've ever had."
For example:
• More than 30,000 young people, spanning 300 schools across Saskatchewan, were reached through the Foundation's Win with Wellness (mental health) and Rider Reading (literacy) initiatives.
• More than 400,000 hours of reading were logged in Saskatchewan as part of the Summer Rider Reading Challenge.
• 300 children, including new Canadians, played football for the first time while being instructed and encouraged by Roughriders players.
• The Northern Football Jamboree, held in Regina in late September, welcomed and showcased the stars of the Northern Saskatchewan Football League. The agenda for members of the nine NSFL teams included a Roughriders home game.
• The Roughrider Foundation 50/50 draw peaked on Sept. 1, when the jackpot soared to $1,214,960 — a CFL regular-season record. A Saskatoon family (Sarah, Jordan, Brock and Rhett Mooney) received $607,000-plus as a reward for purchasing the winning ticket leading up to the Labour Day Classic between the Roughriders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Proceeds from all the 50/50 draws benefit amateur football in Saskatchewan.
• Proceeds from the Plaza of Honour gala, at which Roughriders legends Darian Durant and Roy Shivers joined the team's shrine, benefited Win with Wellness.
• The second annual Roughrider Foundation Winter Classic — a charity hockey game organized by kicker Brett Lauther in conjunction with the Foundation — showcased the Getzlaf brothers (Ryan and Chris) on Feb. 3.
"It was a cool moment for us to see Chris, Ryan and all our players — and raising three times as much as we did in Year 1," Foundation Executive Director Cindy Fuchs says.
"The people who attended and the sponsors were just over the moon."
This year's Winter Classic is set to face off on Feb. 1, 12:30 p.m., at Merlis Belsher Place in Saskatoon.
Lauther and Chris Getzlaf will be the captains. The head coaches will be Roughriders receivers Kian Schaffer-Baker and Ajou Ajou.
The rosters will include two former NHL players, who are to be announced soon.
Tickets for the Winter Classic are available HERE.
The Foundation was created in 2019 to enhance community efforts throughout Saskatchewan, with a focus on youth. The Foundation's three pillars are health, education and amateur football.
The Foundation's profile ascended to new heights in 2024, when community involvement and money raised/distributed peaked.
"This is why the Club created this charitable arm," Fuchs says. "I always give credit to the Board and Craig Reynolds for having the insight and the understanding of what that charitable arm could do in the province of Saskatchewan to give back to youth and children."
Before the Foundation was established, the Club typically distributed about $375,000 per year to amateur football. That amount has increased exponentially, soaring to the $2-million range.
Many of the memories are priceless.
"A highlight to all of us was the Northern Saskatchewan Football League visit," Fuchs says. "That, to us, made a huge impact.
"We talk about removing barriers for Indigenous people. In the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action, one of the biggest ones is removing barriers to Indigenous kids so they can reach their full potential in sport.
"We're meeting our Calls to Action annually with just one of those activities — and we do other things — and I'm super proud of that."
After the NSFL delegation attended the Roughriders' Sept. 28 home game against the Ottawa REDBLACKS, everyone was invited to a function at the mamaweyatitan centre for a social and supper.
All the participants were given a gift package that included Riders-themed shirts, pyjama pants and socks.
"You would have thought we had given them the moon," Fuchs says. "So many kids came up to us and shook our hands and said, 'Thank you very much for the experience. It's something I'll never forget.'
"I'm not talking about one or two. I'm talking about a lot. Adults do that, but teenaged kids?"
The adults who wear the Green and White game uniforms are key players for the Foundation.
"I'm super proud of our team and our players in particular for the time they've devoted," Reynolds says.
"We have so many players who willingly want to do the work, and they want to do more work and get to more places and do more community appearances."
More of the same is on the menu for 2025, including a major announcement regarding amateur football that is scheduled for February.
To make a tax-deductible donation to the Foundation, click HERE.