Capitals forward Nicklas Backstrom was given the Honorary Ambassador Award at the Swedish Embassy on Wednesday night. The award is given annually to a high-profile individual who serves as a good role model for youth.
Her Majesty Queen Silvia of Sweden was present at the “In Light of Youth” benefit dinner, hosted by the Mentor Foundation. Backstrom’s Swedish Capitals teammates, Andre Burakovsky and Christian Djoos, joined him at the event.
“Our Honorary Ambassador Award highlights the efforts of high profile individuals who empowers young people to live healthy lives, free of drugs,” the Mentor Foundation said on Instagram. “Nicklas joined the Washington Capitals at a very young age, and has managed to keep a successful career with a focus on family, health and success.”
Backstrom’s fiancee Liza Berg and Christian Djoos’s girlfriend Ebba Östlund also attended the event, which was hosted by Her Majesty Queen Silvia of Sweden and H.E. Karin Olofsdotter, Ambassador of Sweden to the United States.
The Caps’ Swedes took a photo with the Queen.
The Mentor Foundation was founded by the Queen of Sweden in 1994 to provide support to young adults around the world. The mission of the organization is to help youth, who are more suspect to developing substance abuse problems and guide them to a healthy lifestyle.
While Backstrom was recognized for how he handled his own transition from Sweden to the United States at a young age, he has done a lot of work with youth in his DC. He joined Mike Green’s “So Kids Can” program in 2011, which has raised nearly $300,000 for charity. Most recently he delivered laptops and tablets to an elementary school with Braden Holtby and Tom Wilson.
Headline photo: svenskdam.se
