• Slug: Sports-Coyotes donation, 486 words
• Photos available

By REBECCA DANTUONO
Cronkite News

PHOENIX — Members of the Arizona Coyotes Foundation paid a visit to Phoenix Children’s Hospital, bringing along a large check of $250,000.

The money will be used to help support the hospital’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders Clinics, one of which opened last October.

“This is helping our sickest patients, who are in the fights of their lives and finding cures for childhood cancer,” Tim Harrison, Vice President of Corporate Partnerships, said about the check presented Thursday.

Harrison said no amount is too small, but it’s the big checks that really make a difference.

“Treatment of cancer is very, very expensive and it takes multiple years as kids go through the process,” Harrison said.  “So their families really need the help and the support.”

As the sixth busiest cancer clinic in the country, there is a big need throughout the Valley, Harrison said. In the last year, PCH saw 316 newly diagnosed children, and the money provides critical care.

“We’re so grateful to the Coyotes and the Coyotes organization for their support,” Harrison said. “As a community partner, it’s really great to really partner up with another organization that’s doing great things.”

Not only is PCH thankful for the Coyotes, but the Coyotes could not be happier to have a long-term partnership with PCH.

“It means so much,” Coyotes owner Andrew Barroway said. “It means so much to me, to our executive team, to our players, and when they see the great things (PCH does) for these kids, it tugs at your heart. We’re thrilled to do it and feel very humbled.”

Arizona Coyotes COO and General Counsel Ahron Cohen said the Coyotes made the commitment with PCH about three years ago, and a significant amount of money raised by the Foundation goes to PCH.

“This has really been an organizational commitment the last several years,” Cohen said.

“We look for great partners who really are similarly a fabric of this community. PCH has been here for so long and they do so many great things for this Valley, and it’s just a natural fit. They’re fantastic.”

PCH and the Coyotes partner on multiple events and players make consistent visits to the hospital throughout the year. Their most recent telethon during a home game in March raised $50,000.

“It’s not just dollar support for us, it’s really integrating our team,” Cohen said. Our players come here all the time, especially around the holidays and we think that’s really a good partnership and a great fit.”

Joining several Coyotes staff and executives during Thursday’s donation was the one of the team’s assistant captains, Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

“Even if it’s for 10 minutes or day, we want to make a difference and put a smile on their face if we can,” Ekman-Larsson said. “Whatever we can do to make them feel a little bit better, that’s why we’re here and that’s what we want to keep doing.”

Connect with us on Facebook.

For more stories from Cronkite News, visit cronkitenews.azpbs.org.