A new member will be joining the Lloydminster Bobcats hockey team in their quest for the RBC Cup. Hailing from Jarso, Ethiopia, 2006-born Firomsa has been recruited by the players to receive their monetary support through World Vision, an international charity.
The players hand-picked Firomsa from an immense list of worthy candidates. “We as a group decided to pick Firomsa because he seemed like the perfect fit for both the team and the Lloydminster community,” said team captain Grant Baker. Immediate funds will help the young Ethiopian boy and his family, who enjoys caring for his family’s animals and likes his local language class the best out of all his school lessons. The players’ ultimate goal in the future would be to one day bring Firomsa to Lloydminster, Canada, to meet the team and community in person and drop the puck at a home game. “It could be a life-changing experience not only for Firomsa, but for the team and community as well,” said assistant captain Tyler Kunz.
Jarumsa’s support will be financed out of the players’ own ‘Players Fund’, an account that was set up at the local RBC branch by the captains. The funds from the account are generated by the players’ individual contributions as well as a couple donations from the Public Library in which the players loaded and unloaded a semi-trailer full of shelving, as well as participating in the Lloydminster In-Motion program where the players participate in an after school program involving local youth. “It is vital to give back to our community that has given our team so much over the years. Any time our team has the opportunity to make an impact in the community and in this case of supporting an entire family outside of our community – we are more than happy to do so,” said Lloydminster-born assistant captain Linden Springer.
While some money from the Players Fund will cover off expenses like food at team building events, the majority of the money will be devoted to one purpose: giving back. “We get tremendous support from the community day-in and day-out, which we really appreciate. As players, we thought it would be a good idea to be on the other end of it and give back to a great cause for a sponsor child and his family,” said Austin McDonald, who is the team’s latest assistant captain after earning the ‘A’ through his tremendous dedication and work-ethic this season.
For more information on the Players Fund or on Firomsa's sponsorship, please contact head coach Garry VanHereweghe at 780.871.0900 or coach@lloydminsterbobcats.com.
World Vision is a Christian relief, development, and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families, and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. To contact World Vision, please visit www.worldvision.ca or call 1-866-595-5550.