Minnesota Wild and Xcel Energy Announce Fundraising Effort to Benefit Salvation Army's Heat Share Program

Xcel Energy Matches Minnesota Wild Team Donation Dollar-For-Dollar

    SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – With rising home-heating costs a concern this winter, the Minnesota Wild and Xcel Energy announced today a fundraising effort within the Xcel Energy Center to help raise funds for the Salvation Army’s HeatShare program, which provides energy assistance to low-income families in Minnesota.

    Fans will have the opportunity to support the HeatShare program through the Xcel Energy Puck Wall, located on the main concourse of the Xcel Energy Center. Throughout the remainder of the 2005-06 season, when fans purchase a personalized puck to be displayed on the puck wall for $100 through Minnesota Sports & Entertainment (MSE) Community Giving, the funds will be directed to the HeatShare program. In turn, the Xcel Energy Foundation will match each donation to the HeatShare program for a total contribution of $200 for each puck purchased.

    “There has been a lot of discussion about the high cost of fuel and we know this will translate into more families coming to us for help,” said Major Paul Fleeman, Salvation Army Twin Cities Commander.  “It’s great to see the Wild and Xcel Energy putting action behind their concern and working to provide funds for HeatShare. We are only a successful community when we work together to provide opportunity and hope for those less fortunate.”

    “Hockey is a team sport played on ice,” Governor Tim Pawlenty said. “So is being a Minnesotan. At a time of great need, this is a significant public-private-non-profit partnership to help keep Minnesota families warm this winter. I know Minnesotans will show their generous spirit and build this ‘puck wall.’”

     All 24 members of the Minnesota Wild team chipped in to make an initial contribution to kick off the effort.  Wild goaltender Dwayne Roloson presented the Salvation Army with a check for $2,400, which was matched by Xcel Energy for a total contribution of $4,800.

    “We want to thank the Wild for kicking off this effort in such a big way,” said Xcel Energy Minnesota President and CEO Cyndi Lesher.  “We know their fans also have a lot of heart, and will join Xcel Energy in helping to support HeatShare for the remainder of the hockey season.”

    Donations will be used to assist seniors with low incomes and no alternate source of help, disabled people whose physical capabilities limit their ability to maintain income to adequately cover energy bills, and people who have unexpected emergencies and as a result cannot pay for household energy costs.

    To participate in the fundraising effort, fans can pick up an Xcel Energy Puck Wall order form at the Xcel Energy Center Box Office, at the Community Relations Center during Minnesota Wild home games or by downloading it from www.wild.com. The HeatShare fundraising effort will continue throughout the 2005-06 Minnesota Wild season. All donations are tax deductible.

About the Minnesota Wild

    The Minnesota Wild organization is in the midst of its fifth NHL season after bringing hockey at its highest level back to Minnesota for the 2000-01 campaign. Since then, the team has sold out every home game in franchise history (194 in all), set an NHL record for attendance by an expansion team and created a buzz across the state of hockey with its run to the Western Conference Finals in the 2003 Stanley Cup Playoffs. In an ESPN survey published in February of 2003, the Wild ranked number one for stadium experience and number two for fan relationships among all 123 major professional sports franchises. For more information on the Minnesota Wild, visit www.wild.com, presented by Comcast.

About MSE Community Giving

    MSE Community Giving is the community outreach arm of Minnesota Sports & Entertainment (MSE), the parent company of the Minnesota Wild. Formerly known as the 10,000 Rinks Foundation, it was renamed MSE Community Giving in 2005 to recognize an increased outreach effort as MSE broadened its business interests to include the Minnesota Swarm of the National Lacrosse League (NLL); it’s primary hockey developmental affiliate, the Houston Aeros; and its facilities including the Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul RiverCentre, and The Legendary Roy Wilkins Auditorium. The focus of MSE Community Giving is to create new opportunities to give back to the community, while continuing the efforts of many 10,000 Rinks Foundation programs including the silent auction tables, game-day program sales and Puck Wall program.

About Xcel Energy Foundation

    Xcel Energy Foundation helps build stronger communities through focus area grants in education, community development, environmental stewardship and arts & culture access. Including matching gift programs and its company-wide United Way campaign, the foundation gave more than $5.6 million to nonprofits throughout Xcel Energy’s Minnesota service territory last year.

For more information on the Salvation Army’s HeatShare program,
call 651-746-3542 or visit www.thesalarmy.com.

For more information on Xcel Energy call 1-800-895-4999,
or visit the company's website at www.xcelenergy.com

For more information on the Minnesota Wild or MSE Community Giving,
call (651) 602-6000 or visit www.wild.com.