Local Youth Coming Together to Face Off for Underprivileged Kids

Collier Youth Services, a non-profit organization that empowers at-risk youth, is excited to announce the 1st Annual Hockey Has Heart 3 on 3 high school hockey tournament, in support of Kateri Day Camp on Saturday, April 6, 2019 from 1:00PM-6:00PM at the Red Bank Armory Ice Complex in Red Bank, NJ. This event is the brainchild of Colin Gartz, a high school sophomore at St. John Vianney High School, who wanted to do something to make a difference in the lives of the campers who attend Kateri Day Camp.

For many children between the ages of 5-13, summer time presents safe, fun days of outdoor play. Unfortunately, low-income youth whose families have few avenues for affordable supervised programs when schools are closed and adults still need to work. After learning about this disparity, Colin decided to round up hockey players in the area to create the Hockey Has Heart tournament to raise funds to help send kids to Kateri Day Camp. “It’s great to be able to help out kids who want to have a fun summer and I am excited that the hockey community has stepped up to make the tournament happen,” said Colin Gartz. This three on three tournament, open to high school students, consists of eight teams of 6-8 high school players from throughout Monmouth and Ocean Counties. “We are so happy to be the beneficiary of this great idea and it’s so motivating to see the idea come from kids who want to help other kids,” said Sister Debbie Drago Executive Director Collier Youth Services.

Collier Youth Services operates Kateri Day Camp, a summer camp that for over 43 years has provided a safe, supervised summer camp experience that enriches the lives of children from Monmouth County’s poorest neighborhoods. Kateri is unique in that it is the only day camp in Monmouth County that is solely focused on the children of families who live in poverty and cannot afford the array of summer programs available to their more affluent peers. Campers attend Kateri Day Camp at little to no cost thanks to “campership” (camp scholarships) which cover full camp tuition for the seven-week program, which includes on-site activities, off-site field trips, daily swim lessons, healthy meals, and round-trip transportation.

Sponsors for this event include E.C. Provini Company, Inc., Morgan Stanley, MileMark Media, Hockey Night in Boston, New York Watermaker, FourFront Group, Seaview Orthopaedics, Mullaney and Associates Physical Therapy, and Cowleys Pest Services. Gifts to support Kateri Day camp can still be made at the Collier Website listed below.

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For over 90 years, Collier Youth Services has focused on improving the lives of underserved youth with academic, developmental, and emotional challenges. Collier operates an array of programs, including Collier High School, Collier Middle School, Extended School Year programs, Collier Group Home, and Collier House, in addition to Kateri Day Camp. Collier’s mission is built on an unwavering belief in the worth and potential of all individuals and their capacity for change. For more details, please visit www.collieryouthservices.org or call 732-946-4771.