Grassroots organizations and charities are part of the unofficial backbone of society. These organizations are making deep and impactful changes on people’s lives in various ways and deserve more recognition. Here is a list of some hockey nonprofits that are making positive changes within the hockey culture to help grow and diversify the game.

• The Carnegie Initiative

The Carnegie Initiative is an organization whose mission is to “work to ensure that hockey is inclusive, supportive, and welcoming to all.” Some of the programming that The Carnegie Initiative has are the Herbert Carnegie Trailblazer Award (HCTA), which honors people who are trying to make a positive change in hockey and their annual Summit that brings together “thought leaders, industry titans and grassroots champions from across the hockey world” to share their work and create a “meaningful, scalable, inclusive impact” in hockey.

• HEROS Hockey (Hockey Education Reaching Out Society)

Winner of the 2021 Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award (NHL), HEROS (Hockey Education Reaching Out Society) Hockey aims “to use the game of ice hockey to teach life-skills and empower marginalized youth” by providing free hockey in a “safe and stable environment for them to grow, connect, and succeed.” The programs that HEROS Hockey offers are the Future Stars program (grades 4-8), All Stars program (grades 8 and up), and SuperHEROS program (ages 7-17 for youth with cognitive and physical challenges). HEROS Hockey offers programs in Victoria, Vancouver, Surrey, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Regina, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Belfast, Ireland.

• Black Girl Hockey Club

A finalist for the 2021 Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award (NHL), Black Girl Hockey Club functions as a safe space to “inspire and sustain passion for the game of hockey within the Black community, specifically with our mothers, sisters, daughters, and friends” and part of their mission is to “prevent exclusion in hockey based on race, gender, sexuality, or ability in the face of institutional racism, financial gatekeeping, and program access.” Some of the resources that Black Girl Hockey Club provides are scholarships, the Leadership Development program for black women who aspire to work in hockey, community events (e.g. monthly book club, gameday meetups), and Get Uncomfortable Pledge Campaign. Black Girl Hockey Club has also expanded into Canada.

• Apna Hockey

Winner of the 2020 Willie O’Ree Community Award (NHL), Apna Hockey aspires to teach, “connect and mentor South Asian hockey talent.” Their programs are not limited to just people of South Asian descent but they “encourage all Canadians to participate in Apna camps.” Apna Hockey has also worked with Hayley Wickenheiser and the Indian National Women’s Hockey team. Apna Hockey provides camps and tournaments in Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, and Toronto.

• Hockey 4 Youth

Hockey 4 Youth aims to “increase social inclusion for new Canadians and high-priority youth through two aspects of programming.” On ice, Hockey 4 Youth offers free ice hockey, which includes equipment, ice time, coaching, transportation for trips, snacks, and access to tournaments all at no cost. Off ice, the T.E.A.C.H (technology, entrepreneurship, community giving and healthy active living) Program helps learn program participants life skills through experiential learning opportunities. Hockey 4 Youth offers their programs at 11 high schools in Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, and Hamilton and will be expanding into Edmonton in 2023.

• The Grindstone Award Foundation

The Grindstone Award Foundation’s mission is to help “provide opportunities to young female hockey players who have a desire to play, but are unable to for financial reasons.” The Grindstone Award Foundation provides registration and equipment grants for girls across Canada.

• Their Opportunity

Their Opportunity is a Canadian children's charity “that delivers and subsidizes local sport for development and community engagement programming.” Their programs and services help to “eliminate barriers of access and promote a lifestyle of giving back, empowering youth to reach their full potential.” Some of the resources that Their Opportunity provides are subsidies for different sports, including hockey, the Indigenous Hockey Equipment Drive, and the Body Meets Mind Program to help promote physical and mental wellness. Their Opportunity helps youth all across Canada.