WASHINGTON, D.C. — Monumental Sports & Entertainment owner Ted Leonsis attended the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony held at the Marriott Marquis on Thursday night.
Leonsis, who was joined by his wife Lynn and his son Zach, was there to accept the Wayne Gretzky International Award on behalf of Alex Ovechkin, who was traveling with the Washington Capitals on a road trip to Tampa Bay. While there, Leonsis showed off his extraordinary kindness with a massive donation to USA Hockey.
Leonsis’s donation netted Team USA scarves and mittens for every Fort Dupont youth hockey player in attendance supporting their coach Neal Henderson — one of the 2019 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame honorees.
USA Hockey is raising funds with the sales of these Team USA scarves and mittens. @TedLeonsis bought one for every @FriendsofFDIA kid here at #USHHOF induction ceremony 👏 pic.twitter.com/V5KYkBDTxp
— RMNB (@russianmachine) December 13, 2019
At the start of the night, the emcee, ESPN’s Steve Levy, told everyone that USA Hockey was doing a fundraiser to benefit the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The campaign was called “Raise The Flag.” If someone donated more than $100, they would receive a Team USA scarf and mitten combo.
During the second half of the ceremony, Levy announced that Leonsis had contributed enough to give scarf/mittens for every Fort Dupont kid at the event, which was approximately 30 hockey players.
At the conclusion of the event, Levy said the campaign raised $25k and Leonsis had matched that number to double it to $50k.
Leonsis is the same person who gifted 200 MSE employees a surprise trip to Las Vegas for the Stanley Cup Final and gave a Stanley Cup ring to everyone who worked full time at his organization. He has also given Washington DC three championships (Capitals, Mystics, Valor) over the last two years. So at this point, his generosity is not a surprise.
At the reception for the #USHHOF Induction Celebration with one of tonight's honorees – Neal Henderson – The first African American to be inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame – He is a true legend indeed. @usahockey | #RaisetheGame #BeMonumental pic.twitter.com/VpAXeHRkq5
— Ted Leonsis (@TedLeonsis) December 12, 2019
Photos: Elizabeth Kong
