MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
March 15, 2012
Media Contact:
Nathan Svoboda, 408.454.8243, president@sanjosepride.com
2 nd Annual LGBT NIGHT WITH THE SHARKS: Sharing of NHL Celebrations
By Eydie Mendoza
San Jose PRIDE, in collaboration with the San Jose Sharks NHL professional hockey team, will hold the Second Annual LGBT Night at the Shark Tank on Monday, March 19, 2012 at 7 PM for an exciting evening against the Anaheim Ducks.
The Sharks are currently tied for 9th, just two points out of the playoff picture. The Anaheim team hasn’t played well of late, and neither have the Sharks but they are overdue for a winning streak. Fans hope they can start that streak and keep it going for Monday’s game against the Ducks.
This year PRIDE Board Member Robert Parra coordinated the LGBT PRIDE event and states, “As a community leader, it is very important to have this event, because it supports and shows both, the LGBT and non-LGBT sports community that we all enjoy watching sports, as well as, building a community partnership with the Sharks.”
Parra adds that it is an opportunity to plant a seed within the San Jose community. There is no doubt that proud Sharks and Ducks fans alike will be psyched for the game.
Fans never forget their first hockey game, and no one can dispute the PRIDE shared by local youths of San Jose’s Caroline Davis Intermediate School Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) who will attend their first NHL Sharks game and PRIDE fundraising event, with special thanks to members of the Rainbow Chamber of Commerce of Silicon Valley for donating over $200.
GSA advisor Mary Melnick says, “What a great opportunity for my GSAers to attend a community event surrounded by like-minded folk who support and celebrate diversity as much as we do. We can proudly join the greater San Jose LGBTQQ community by not only showing our support but also enjoying each other’s company and cheering on our Sharks! And how lucky we are to have San Jose PRIDE be our “angel”–this experience would not be fiscally possible for my students without their help. A thousand thank-yous!”
The LGBT community came together to give these young fans their first game.
“The Rainbow Chamber of Commerce of Silicon Valley is pleased to help LGBT GSA club attend the upcoming Sharks Game on Monday, March 19. Part of our mission at the chamber is community involvement and education of not only the LGBT community, but the greater community at large. By participating with San Jose PRIDE on this important endeavor, we are educating our youth that one day they may be business owners/supports and that the Chamber is around as a resource for their personal and professional growth,” shares RCCSV President Robert O. Robledo.
San Jose PRIDE reminds the LGBT community there are a few fundraising tickets left, “Get your ticket’s for the game now through our web site sanjosePRIDE.com.”
So while PRIDE celebrates its 2nd Annual LGBT Night with the Sharks, Caroline Davis Intermediate School GSA students attend their first Sharks game, and together want to thank Sharks rookie Tommy Wingels, 2011 MVP Corey Perry of the Anaheim Ducks and other NHL players for participating and for their support of the You Can Play Project that promotes respect for all athletes; to learn more visit youcanplayproject.org.
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