COEUR D’ALENE, ID – Discovery Land Company Foundation, the charitable venture of Discovery Land Company, and Gozzer Ranch Golf & Lake Club, an award-wining private community developed by Discovery, hosted two unique NHL-inspired fundraising events to benefit Coeur d’Alene youth.
The events included a NHL Legends hockey game, featuring former NHL stars Wayne Gretzky and Brett Hull among others, at Frontier Ice Arena on Friday, July 11. A private NHL Legends reception and dinner was held at the Gozzer Ranch Clubhouse Saturday, July 12. The two events raised more than $230,000 to benefit the local community. Additionally, Discovery Land Company will make a separate donation of $90,000, bringing the total contribution to $330,000.
Thanks to the work of the Discovery Land Company Foundation and Gozzer Ranch Golf & Lake Club, all of the money raised will go directly to the designated organizations. Coeur d’Alene’s Children’s Village, Inc., which provides a loving home for homeless, abused or abandoned children, will receive just over $300,000 to assist with the Miller Home expansion project. This expansion will enable Children’s Village to serve twice as many youth each year.
Another $30,000 will go to benefit Coeur d’Alene’s youth hockey program, providing for needed maintenance to the Frontier Ice Arena and offsetting participation costs for youths in need.
“Coeur d’Alene has truly embraced Gozzer Ranch and its members,” said Michael S. Meldman, Chairman and CEO of Discovery Land Company. “We couldn’t be more proud to be a part of this tremendous community. Our member families and our staff are happy to lend our support to improving Coeur d’Alene for everyone.”
The Development Officer at Children’s Village, Christina Hull, responded to the news, “Since 2008, more than 400 children have been touched in some way by the generosity of the Discovery Land Company Foundation and Gozzer Ranch Golf & Lake Club,” said Hull. “On behalf of the everyone here at Children’s Village, including our amazing children, we THANK YOU!”
In addition to Gretzky and Hull, the Legends Hockey Game on Friday night featured 16 past NHL greats including Brenden Morrow, Russ Courtnall and Barret Jackman. The Legends competed against the hometown Coeur d’Alene Lakers of the Northern Pacific Hockey League. The Lakers were anchored by former Lakers’ star and current NHL Tampa Bay Lightning center, Tyler Johnson. In an action-packed two-period game, the Legends eked out a 6-to-5 victory over the Lakers in front of an enthusiastic crowd of approximately 600.
Saturday evening’s private reception and dinner at the Gozzer Ranch Clubhouse attracted about 150 members and guests, including many former NHL players. In addition to dinner, the event featured live and silent auctions with plenty of NHL memorabilia as well as vacation trips to Yellowstone Club in Montana, Baker’s Bay Golf & Ocean Club in The Bahamas, El Dorado Golf & Ocean Club in Los Cabos, The Madison Club in La Quinta and a Hamptons dream golf vacation experience. Opening remarks and introductions were handled by Discovery Land Company Foundation Board Member Hunter Meldman, who has volunteered at Children’s Village in the past. The auctioneer was former NHL player and current radio sportscaster Kelly Chase, and live entertainment was provided by former NHL player turned recording artist Kraig Nienhuis.
Since spring of 2008, Discovery Land Company Foundation and Gozzer Ranch have provided financial assistance to Children’s Village through grants, donations and fundraising initiatives. These contributions have helped to provide educational, recreational, therapeutic and emergency assistance to residents of the Children’s Village. In addition, members of Discovery Land Company Foundation and Gozzer Ranch are working to broaden their relationship to provide enhanced facilities, opportunities and interaction for the Children’s Village residents.
For more information about Children’s Village, please call (208) 667-1189 or visit www.thechildrensvillage.org. For more information about the Discovery Land Company Foundation, please visit http://discoverylandcofoundation.org.
