ICEHOGS AND BMO HARRIS BANK TO DONATE PLAYGROUND

Rockford, Ill. - The Rockford IceHogs and BMO Harris Bank announced today that they are teaming up with Kids Around the World and other local donors to construct a playground for RocVale Children’s Home. Kids Around the World and local volunteers will begin construction on Friday, Oct. 14 at the RocVale Children’s Home, located at 4450 North Rockton Avenue in Rockford.

RocVale Children’s Home is a five home residential facility for 50 children ages eight to 21 with developmental disabilities. A division of Milestone Inc., the RocVale Children’s Home provides residential, developmental and therapeutic services.

The new playground will be built by Kids Around the World and be used by all the residents. The Rockford non-profit organization focuses their efforts on children across the globe with the strategy of “Play. Feed. Train.”

Other donors to the project include the Rockford Park District, The Larry Larson Memorial Fund, Backyard Grill and Bar and The Carol Lavin Bernick Family Foundation.

“The Rockford community continues to amaze me,” Milestone President and CEO Shawn Way said. “The collaboration of Kids Around the World, the Rockford IceHogs, BMO Harris Bank, Backyard Grill and Bar, and the Rockford Park District makes the rebuild and upgrade of the William Howard playground at RocVale Children’s Home possible. The ties back to Larry Larson, and the Larson family, go back decades here at RocVale. All of these wonderful organizations and individuals makes a dream like a playground rebuild come together, for the benefit of the children of RocVale. We are truly blessed.”

“A playground can make a positive difference in the lives of children,” said Andrea Ward, Market President, BMO Harris Bank. “We are excited to work with the Rockford community and our partners to bring this playground to life for RocVale Children’s Home and its residents.”

“We are humbled to help bring a new playground to the RocVale Children’s Home and restore their park so the kids have an opportunity to play and be kids,” IceHogs Director of Business Operations Mike Peck said. “We are fortunate to have great community partners in Rockford like Kids Around the World, BMO Harris Bank, the Rockford Park District and others who are helping make our community a better place to live.”

The IceHogs and BMO Harris Bank will host a dedication ceremony at the RocVale Children’s Home playground on Wednesday, Oct. 19 at 4:30 p.m. Rockford Head Coach Ted Dent, IceHogs players and Hammy will be in attendance for the playground dedication.

Regular Season Home Opener: Saturday, Oct. 22 vs. Milwaukee at 7 p.m. The IceHogs open their 18th season of professional hockey at the BMO with the first home game of the 2016-17 season. The first 5,000 fans to enter the arena will receive an IceHogs calendar compliments of BMO Harris Bank. For tickets visit IceHogs.com or call (815) 968-5222.