YOUR TEAM IN THE COMMUNITY
Stinger Appearances
Speakers Bureau
Donations
COMMUNITY INITIATIVES
Hockey: It's In Your Blood!
Tickets for Charity
Jackets for Jackets Coat Drive
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS FOUNDATION WEBSITE
Community Relations Department
The Blue Jackets Community Relations Department serves as the team's liaison to central Ohio through a variety of grassroots outreach programs designed to develop a strong presence in the Columbus community. The Columbus Blue Jackets have worked diligently throughout the years to touch thousands of lives through a variety of educational programs, special events, and fan development initiatives.
The accomplishments of the Blue Jackets off the ice are the result of a dedicated group of ownership, management, players and wives, front office staff and the generous contributions of the team's corporate partners. The team is proud to be a part of the greater Columbus community and remains committed to "Sticking with the Community" it calls home.
For more information on Blue Jackets community programs, please call 614-246-3707.
Donations
The Columbus Blue Jackets organization realizes the important role it plays in the community, and is committed to “Sticking with the Community” far beyond the on-ice excitement. Each month the Foundation donates autographed Blue Jackets merchandise to non-profit organizations to assist in their fundraising efforts.
Due to the significant number of requests the Columbus Blue Jackets receive on a daily basis, the following guidelines and criteria have been established to outline how donations will be allotted. These guidelines are in place to assure fairness, professionalism, and to maximize the support the Columbus Blue Jackets organization can provide the greater Columbus community.
- TICKETS*: Due to the Personal Seat License agreements and individual game supply, the Blue Jackets can NOT honor the request for ticket donations.
- MONETARY: All requests for monetary donations are facilitated through the Blue Jackets Foundation. To be eligible for a monetary grant, non-profit organizations must complete a formal application (Click here for more information on our Grant Application process). All requests are reviewed annually by the Foundation’s Board of Directors in March and monetary grants are awarded during the month of April.
- MERCHANDISE: All non-monetary donations distributed to non-profit organizations are Blue Jackets merchandise. Any other special requests must be approved by Blue Jackets Vice President of Community Development, Jen Bowden.
Donation Request Policies:
No email or phone requests will be accepted.
All requests must be submitted in writing on the organization’s letterhead. Requests must be received at least 6 weeks prior to the fundraising event date. Please mail or fax to:
Columbus Blue Jackets
Attn: Donations
200 W. Nationwide Blvd.
Columbus, OH 43215
Fax: 614.246.3738
All requests submitted must include the following information:
- Organization’s name, address, and phone number
- Organization’s IRS 501 (c)3 number
- Contact person’s name and email address
- Title and date of event
- Type of fundraiser (i.e. silent/live auction, reverse raffle, Chinese auction, etc…)
- ALL DONATIONS MUST BE USED TO RAISE MONEY (requests for door prizes, giveaways, etc cannot be fulfilled)
Approval Guidelines:
- The majority of donations will be granted to organizations and events hosted in the greater Columbus area. We are not able to fulfill requests for events or organizations outside the state of Ohio.
- In order to assure fairness, the Blue Jackets Community Development Department typically does not make contributions to individuals, religious, ethnic, political, or labor groups.
- The Blue Jackets do not donate to any of the companies that hold an organizational campaign (i.e. for the United Way, Harvest for Hunger, American Cancer Society, Operation Feed, etc…) as the Foundation donates directly to these organizations.
- The Blue Jackets limit any organization to a maximum of 1 donation per calendar year.
- Fulfilled donations are typically sent 2 - 3 weeks prior to the date of the fundraising event.
- All organizations receiving a donation must return a donation response form (will be enclosed with donation) in order to be considered for a future donation.
- Groups seeking financial support are invited to apply for a grant from the Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation. Click here for more information.
Appearances
The Blue Jackets players, coaches, and staff are dedicated to being an active part of the Columbus community both on and off the ice.
Fans can book the city's busiest bug to drop by their seat during a Blue Jackets home game to celebrate a birthday, anniversary or any special occasion. A variety of packages are available and all the proceeds benefit the Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation. For an in-game visit from Stinger, click here.
Any organizations interested in securing a representative from the Blue Jackets can do so by faxing or mailing a request on the organization’s letterhead to the Blue Jackets at least 6 weeks prior to their upcoming event. Once submitted, the Blue Jackets will process the request, attempting to identify the representative that best fits the request. Organizations will be notified either way.
To request a Blue Jackets appearance, please include the following on the organization’s letterhead:
- Name of organization
- Non-profit status of organization
- Paragraph regarding purpose of visit (including CBJ representative’s responsibilities)
- Date of event
- Time frame of event
Mail to:
Columbus Blue Jackets
ATTN: Appearance Request
200 W Nationwide Blvd
Columbus, OH 43215
Fax: 614-246-3738
The team's broadcasters and Blue Jackets executive staff visit a variety of professional associations, civic groups, corporate events, colleges, and universities to deliver a high energy presentation on "Your Team."
The speaker will deliver a presentation to run 20-30 minutes, depending on your individual needs. The show content encompasses information on your favorite Blue Jackets players, history of the franchise, current promotions, community and corporate initiatives.
Blue Jackets speakers include the following:
Chris MacFarland, Assistant General Manager
George Matthews, Radio Play-by-Play, Blue Jackets Radio Network
Bill Davidge, FOX Sports Ohio Color Analyst
Jeff Rimer, FOX Sports Ohio Play by Play
Bob McElligott, Radio Color Analyst
Larry Hoepfner, Executive Vice President of Business Operations
Greg Kirstein, Senior Vice President and Legal Counsel
Marc Gregory, Vice President of Marketing
Todd Sharrock, Vice President of Public Relations
T.J. LaMendola, Chief Financial Officer
To book your speaker, please download, complete and return the speakers bureau registration form to:
Karen Davis
(Fax) 614-246-3738
E-mail kdavis@bluejackets.com
EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES
BOOK JACKETS
For more information on Book Jackets, including the Educator's Starter Kit, point submission and participant information, click here.
Hockey: It's In Your Blood!
Each year, the Columbus Blue Jackets and OhioHealth team up with the American Red Cross during September to make a goal to help save lives. “Hockey: It’s in Your Blood!” is a month-long partnership to recruit blood donors. Last September, the campaign brought in more than 19,000 pints of donated blood in Central Ohio, supporting patients at 42 area hospitals.
Jackets for Jackets
November 12 - December 3The Columbus Blue Jackets have again partnered with the Salvation Army of Central Ohio and the Dispatch Media Group to help keep Columbus families warm through the Jackets For Jackets campaign.
Fans can donate new and gently used coats at Nationwide Arena, OhioHealth Chiller Ice Rink locations, and the FOX Sports Ohio Blue Line from November 12 – December 3. Last year, more than 2000 coats were collected and distributed to local families in need.
Interested in hosting a drive?
Any groups or individuals interested in hosting a drive can download the below flyer. Coats collected can be dropped off between November 12 and December 3rd at the FOX Sports Ohio BlueLine and OhioHealth Chiller Ice Rinks. For collections of more than 50 coats, please contact the Salvation Army at 614-221-6561 to arrange a pick-up or drop-off at one of the Salvation Army Family Thrift Store locations.
CLICK HERE to download the 2012-13 Jackets For Jackets Flyer.
Tickets for Charity
The Tickets for Charity program enables season ticket holders to donate upcoming game tickets to the Foundation which in turn, provides the opportunity for local non-profit organizations within the Central Ohio Community to experience Blue Jackets Hockey!TO DONATE:
By Phone - call a ticket service representative (614) 246-3724
By Internet - log on to your account manager via http://bluejackets.nhl.com/tickets/myaccount.htm
- click "Get Started" under the Manage your Tickets tab
- follow instructions to forward tickets to charity/Foundation
TO RECEIVE:
If you are an organization interested in being a recipient of the Tickets for Charity program, please fax/mail the following information on organization letterhead to:
Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation
200 W. Nationwide Blvd
Columbus, OH 43215
fax: (614) 246-3738
Name or Organization
501 c 3 number
Description of organization's mission
Description of organization's beneficiaries
Contact person and information (address, phone, email)
Tickets typically become available to organizations via a call from the Blue Jackets with very short-term notice and in small quantities.
