THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY PARKER, BEAR, BEYER, BISHOP, BRADFORD, BRENNAN, BRIGGS, BROWN, CALTAGIRONE, CLYMER, COHEN, CREIGHTON, DENLINGER, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, D. EVANS, FRANKEL, GEIST, GEORGE, GINGRICH, GODSHALL, GRUCELA, HARHART, HELM, HENNESSEY, HESS, JOHNSON, W. KELLER, KILLION, KIRKLAND, KORTZ, KOTIK, MAHONEY, MANDERINO, MANN, MARKOSEK, MELIO, MILLARD, O'NEILL, PALLONE, PAYNE, PAYTON, PHILLIPS, QUINN, READSHAW, ROSS, SABATINA, SAINATO, SANTONI, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, SEIP, SIPTROTH, SONNEY, VULAKOVICH, WATERS, WILLIAMS AND YOUNGBLOOD, MAY 11, 2009

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, MAY 11, 2009  

A RESOLUTION

Honoring Ed Snider and the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation for

offering a program to children that aims to instill life-

enhancing values such as teamwork, positive self-esteem, the

importance of hard work and respect for themselves and their

teammates.

WHEREAS, Ed Snider, with amazing dynamism and daring, single-

handedly convinced the National Hockey League in 1966 to locate

an expansion team in Philadelphia, which provided land for a new

arena that became known as the Spectrum; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Snider's Philadelphia Flyers franchise

eventually became the foundation of one of sport's preeminent

organizations in the world, Comcast-Spectacor; and

WHEREAS, Comcast-Spectacor quickly changed the national

landscape of sports by creating the first all-day, all-night

regional sports network known as Comcast SportsNet, which has

since expanded to major markets throughout this nation,

including Chicago, Illinois and New York, New York; and

WHEREAS, Out of respect for the sport of hockey and the

athletes who play it, Mr. Snider established the Ed Snider Youth

Hockey Foundation; and

WHEREAS, Although Comcast-Spectacor's success is testimony to

Mr. Snider's vision and entrepreneurial skills, the creation of

the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation stands as his true legacy;

and

WHEREAS, The Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation's mission is

to use the sport of hockey to help educate young people on how

to succeed in the game of life; and

WHEREAS, The foundation's program is provided free of charge

to both boys and girls who reside in inner-city neighborhoods

within Philadelphia and nearby Camden, New Jersey; and

WHEREAS, The foundation provides its hockey aspirants with

the required equipment, as well as ice time and experienced

coaching; and

WHEREAS, The foundation's program has already touched the

lives of more than 1,000 children, reflecting Mr. Snider's

strong commitment to give back to the community that has

steadfastly supported him; and

WHEREAS, In November 2008, Mr. Snider announced that the Ed

Snider Youth Hockey Foundation would assume operation and

programming of three ice-skating rinks in Philadelphia, which

were targeted for possible closure; and

WHEREAS, The foundation will oversee all ice hockey programs

at the Scanlon Ice Rink, the Laura Sims Statehouse at Cobbs

Creek and the Rink at Simons Recreation and Teen Access Center,

and provide free ice hockey instruction and leagues, including

all equipment as well as supplemental academic services at no

charge to participants; and

WHEREAS, The foundation is working with the City of

Philadelphia to procure land for a hub facility, encompassing a

state-of-the-art computer lab, classrooms, administrative

offices, multiple ice services and a public space designated for

meetings and related community functions; and

WHEREAS, The Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation is well

positioned to continue its successful program of teaching young

people the importance of staying in school, staying on a

progressive path and the power of giving back to one's

community; and

WHEREAS, Many of the children who benefit from the Ed Snider

Youth Hockey Foundation will one day help to build a stronger

Philadelphia; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize and

honor Ed Snider and the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation for

their industrious efforts on behalf of children to make the

Philadelphia community an even better place in which to live,

work and play.