Plymouth Whalers Score Big for Tim Hortons' Charity Event

The teamed up with  today in an effort to raise funds for the Canada-based coffee giant’s Camp Day charity event. For the third year, the Ontario Hockey League’s Plymouth Whalers participated in the effort, from which all proceeds of the day’s coffee sales support.

"Over time they have become a bigger and bigger partner with Compuware,” said Denise Ronayane, Plymouth Whalers director of sales and marketing, of their growing partnership with Tim Horton's. “It’s a perfect fit.”

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Whalers center Alex Aleardi and defensemen Austin Levi lent their scoring hands to the Tim Horton's Children’s Foundation event, at its location in Canton. For a 2-hour shift, the pair signed autographs for kids, passed out 2011-12 season game tickets at the drive-through window and performed general support work with the staff.

For both players it was their third Camp Day event, which Aleardi said is a new experience each year. “Last year I ran the register,” he said of his 2010 shift, one that he shared with Boston Bruins rookie center Tyler Seguin, who will play in the first game of the Stanley Cup Finals against Vancouver tonight. “It’s tough if you don’t do it every day. You have to make change for people, and figure out what buttons to push. It was funny and fun.”

All proceeds from the annual Camp Day fundraiser are used to give under privileged kids an opportunity to enjoy a camping experience they might not otherwise be able to. Campers attend one of Tim Hortons' 10-day summer events, or 7-day winter ones, at its six camp locations throughout the U.S. and Canada. The camps serve thousands of kids, age nine to 12, and funds raised cover all expenses including travel, lodging and meals.

"My favorite part is sending the kids to camp," said Bill Hall, owner of six participating Tim Horton's locations, including three in Canton, and another in Livonia, where Plymouth Whalers Garrett Meurs, Max Iafrate and Tom Wilson volunteered, "seeing them before and after, and getting letters from them while they are there."

Tim Horton's Childrens Foundation was created in 1974 in honor of the late NHL star Tim Horton. It's Camp Day event -- launched in 1997 -- is designed as a leadership development program, through which kids are given the opportunity to return the following year as counselors. Camp Day is held each year throughout Canada, as well as in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia an New York.