The Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award presented by MassMutual recognizes an individual, who like Willie O'Ree, has worked to make a positive impact on his or her community, culture, or society to make people better through hockey.
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Noel Acton
Baltimore, Maryland
Noel Acton, is the Founder and Executive Director of TenderBridge in Baltimore, Maryland. The TenderBridge Foundation, a nonprofit that has supported more than 500 boys and girls in East Baltimore for 20 years. Focused on getting kids off the street and into sports programs, Noel and his team provide all levels of assistance including equipment, transportation, and meals, anything to help the kids succeed. The Foundation also runs the Baltimore Banners and Junior Banners hockey team, a safe space for at-risk youth to not only increase their chances of survival, but to become a positive influence in their community.
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Meredith Lang
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Meredith Lang is being recognized for her work introducing, and encouraging, young girls of color to learn and play hockey. The co-founder of two organizations, Hockey Niñas and Minnesota Unbounded, Lang’s efforts extend beyond Minneapolis. Through the Hockey Niñas, her ability to gather information and share resources makes it easier for anyone who wants to try hockey. Her work has supported families from Mexico to California to New York. Through her work with Minnesota Unbounded, a league comprised entirely of girls and women of color from the players on the ice to the coaches behind the bench, Lang has helped grow the number of competitive girls hockey teams from 31 girls in U10 and U12 teams, to more than 50 families from 20 different hockey organizations on U10, U12, U14 teams, as well as pilot programs for U6 and U8 teams.
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Ryan Francis
Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia
Ryan Francis helped launch the ‘Indigenous Girls Hockey Program Nova Scotia’ which encourages young Mi’kmaq girls to play hockey. His efforts are focused on breaking down the barriers that commonly keep girls from playing the game by making equipment and resources more easily accessible. A member of the Acadia First Nation, Francis believes in the importance of creating a safe community and support network young girls in Nova Scotia. In its first two years, the program has had 190 unique participants from three different Mi’kmaq communities.
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Noel Acton
Baltimore,
Maryland
Ryan Francis
Cole Harbour,
Nova Scotia
Meredith Lang
Minneapolis, Minnesota
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