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PUBLIC
SERVICE In 2003, the Ice Storm was a primary sponsor of the Burlington Boys and Girls Club Flag Football Program. The team provided jerseys for each and every boy and girl who participated, and held a clinic attended (as in the past) by players and coaches. Such events allow the players to interact with individual youths, in a one-on-one atmosphere, and are highlighted by the players signing programs and presenting them to the kids. Furthermore, players attended and helped with the coaching at the Burlington Youth Football Camp, and Coach Perez showed up on the last day of the camp to give his "Do Not Prejudice Your Own Potential" speech to the kids. But, as we say on the Storm, "there's more to life than football." The Vermont Ice Storm also is involved in other-than-football activities that are designed to help enhance the quality of life for all of the people of Vermont. For Thanksgiving, 2002, the Ice Storm collected and donated to the Committee On Temporary Shelter (COT S) Thanksgiving dinners (complete with turkeys) for the homeless. In addition, the Storm held a clothing drive, and donated hats, mittens, gloves, and scarves to COTS, and several hundred pounds worth of coats, warm weather pants, and sweaters to the Salvation Army. The Ice Storm's commitment to COTS continues on, this year with players and coaches and volunteers participating in the "COTS Walk" in May to help raise funds. Finally, a small donation was made to COTS when the Storm's players showed up to the Vermont Food Bank and boxed food for the elderly, and were reimbursed for their time - the reimbursement being given to COTS. At Christmas time, as we have done in the past, the Storm dressed up in game-day uniforms, and visited the Children's Ward of Fletcher Allen Hospital, distributing toys and signing programs for the kids. This event was covered by the Burlington Free Press with an article and a full color picture on the front of the Sports Page. For the second year in a row, the Storm is participating in the St. Albans Maple Festival Parade in April. Handing out programs and candy to the kids, the highlight of the entire parade was our own "Stormy," the polar bear mascot. Also for the second year, the Storm will provide security for the Country Music Festival, held at the Fairgrounds, on Sunday, July the 11th. In February, again for the second year in a row, twelve members of the extended Storm family (team members, wives, sweethearts, and kids), attended the Penguin Plunge - braving the icy waters of Lake Champlain on a day when the chill factor was ..... well ....... it was COLD! This event was a fund raiser for the Special Olympics, and the Storm raised over $2,000 for this worthy cause. Our on-going commitment to the Special Olympics also has included coordinating the awards ceremony at the Special Olympics Vermont's Winter Games held in Woodstock, Vermont. The Storm also helped with the set-up, operations, and "tear-down" of the Special Olympics basketball tournament, in April. Finally, again this Summer, the team will venture to the Special Olympics Summer Games and help out with awards ceremonies and organization. The Vermont Ice Storm is committed to several other community oriented endeavors over the course of the coming year that will, we hope, share with others the fabulous good fortune from which the individual members of our team, and the team as a whole, have benefited in our lives. Looking forward, the Vermont Ice Storm is interested in continuing this community oriented commitment. Anyone who thinks we can be of assistance to their programs or camps should contact us either here on our web forum, at 372-9119, the number of Head Coach Doug Perez, or at 578-6830, the number of Dawn Miller, our Community Service Coordinator.
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