2019 DAWG NATION ANNUAL REPORT PLAY HARD. PLAY FAIR. GIVE BACK

DAWGNATIONHOCKEY.ORG | 10658 W CENTENNIAL RD SUITE 200 | 720-432-9471 MISSION

We, the DAWG Nation Hockey Foundation, are committed to supporting the hockey family in times of in times of crises due to catastrophic injury or illness. By accessing the unique power and compassion of the hockey community, we celebrate life and provide a soft place to land. VISION

DAWG Nation believes in the power of to give persons with and without disabilities the opportunity to gain independence and confidence. We will do this by harnessing the power & generosity of the hockey community to help amateur ice hockey players and their families in times of need. At DAWG Nation, we believe that every ice hockey player regardless of level or ability should Play Hard, Play Fair, Give Back.TM IMPACT

Since inception our Foundation has been able to provide over $2,000,000 dollars to positively impact the lives of many families in need.

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0 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 OUR AMAZING STORIES The Dawg Nation Hockey Foundation exists for one reason, to help adult hockey players and their families in times of crises due to catastrophic injury or illness. Dawg Nation has provided resources and amazing acts of human kindness that have not only changed the lives of our recipients, but also our volunteers at the same time. David Jacober

After serving his country, David went onto a long career with the Pueblo police force. He was also an avid hockey player and lifelong St. Louis Blues fan. In 2018, David received some devastating news that nobody should ever hear, stage four esophageal cancer. While DAWG Nation helped the Jacober family with a check, our greater gift was creating a magical night for father and son. We celebrated life with David, his family, and his friends by first taking in the Avs/Blues game, and of course his beloved Blues won 3-0! One of David’s dreams was to meet his favorite Blue, Vladimir Tarasenko, so in true Dawg fashion we made that dream a reality! And thanks to our friends at the Avalanche and Blues, we were able to toss in a signed Tarasenko sweater, which Tarasenko personalized on the spot!! That year was made even more special when the Blues won their first in their fifty year history. All of us at Dawg Nation stand with Jacober family as they mourned the loss of David in January of 2020. We were grateful to be a part of David Jacober’s journey. Jason Shepperly

A pretty special day here for all of us at Dawg Nation as we had the honor to present the final check to Jason “Shep” Shepperly and his lovely wife Ashley, surprising them yet again with a larger than expected final total, in excess of $74K! Jason’s story is so compelling and his character so stellar (on and off the ice) that donations continued to roll in even after the last puck had been dropped at Dawg Bowl IX. "DAWG Nation is by far the best organization for disabled veterans. What thy did for me and for my family was unbelievable and changed the course of our lives forever. The donation we received helped us get back on our feet and changed our lives beyond words. Thank you DAWG Nation, not only do you enrich lives, you save them!" Jason Shepperly Derek Cahill

Derek is an avid hockey player, playing for the Frisky Squirrels at the Edge as well as other area teams. The hockey community means the world to Derek. He learned how to skate and how to walk at the same time. Hockey has been embedded in his family since his New Hampshire childhood. Derek was injured in a tournament Saturday, July 20th 2019. After a severe spleen rupture, he spent six nights in an ICU and three more nights in the surgical hospital unit. The bills from this injury were piling up on Derek and Kaylee Pierce, who were in the process of planning a long awaited wedding celebration for July of 2020. Before the injury, Derek was deep in the process of finding a new job. Their family was down to one vehicle before Dawg Nation and our vast network of in-kind donors surprised the Cahill's with a "new" vehicle. Chris Stockert

It was a spectacular day at Family Sports as the Arapahoe Hockey community allowed us to be part of an emotional tribute to Chris Stockert. Chris was a long time Arapahoe Hockey coach, teammate, friend, devoted husband and father. Chris’ life was cut short on April 5th leaving behind his loving wife Annette and two sons, Tillman and Easton.

DAWG Nation was blessed to be part of an incredible display of support as we were able to hand the Stockert family a check for over $20,000!! There were countless displays of love and respect for Chris and his family as unselfish acts of kindness were in abundance as this wonderful man was remembered. Jeff Rodell

Jeff and Krystalyn Rodell have 3 awesome young children. Their oldest, Jack, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in December of 2018. Like his dad, young Jack loves hockey. He’s had a stick in his hand every day since his dad took him to Quebec in 2017 while coaching the Foothills squirt AA team. He would love nothing more than to follow in his dad’s footsteps and fight to win a college national championship – but first Jack has to finish winning his fight with leukemia. The hockey community once again rose up to aid this wonderful family. With the combination of a public skate, auction, generous donations and Dawg Nation match we were able to provide the family for a check of $23,700!!!! DAWG Nation later partnered with NAIOP Developing Leaders and presented the Rodell's with another check to offset their mounting medical bills. Jack has since been deemed cancer free! Milan Hejduk

"I partner with Dawg Nation because I have seen firsthand how this organization changes lives and gives back to those in need." Milan Hejduk, NHL Legend OUR EVENTS DAWG BOWL DAWG Bowl IX exceeded even our wildest expectations! Hugs, smiles, laughter, and tears were in abundance throughout the weekend. We once again created memories that will truly last a lifetime and helped changed lives through the incredible generosity of so many! This year’s Survivor Game was one of our best, with teams that brought an avalanche of powerful stories, filled with inspiring individuals and celebrating some deep friendships. We had the pleasure of welcoming two disabled veterans to the ice this year, Jason Shepperly and Jerry DeVaul, both remarkable men and incredible athletes who play sled hockey. Dawg Bowl IX also included some of the world’s top Paralympians, as national team players from both the United States and Canada graced the ice in a fast action game on Saturday. It was an honor to recognize Jason Shepperly, a Purple Heart and Bronze Star with Valor recipient, at the Survivor Game and present him with a check for $65K, which grew another $9K over the next week. We also presented an $11,500 check to Lucas O’Connor, a referee, who was recovering from a broken leg and associated medical bills. Always appropriate to support one of the referees at the DAWG Bowl as they donate all their fees for the entire tournament! TEE IT UP FOR DAWG NATION An incredible day at Highlands Ranch Golf Club culminated with the presentation of a check for $50,000 to Todd Smith. Todd was a single father who had done an amazing job raising two very gifted young ladies, Tatianna (20) and Hailey (16). Todd passed in November following the golf tournament from a rare form of cancer called Cholangiocarcinoma. Despite the odds, Todd showed us all what the importance of being a good father means to the strength and success of your children. We were all on hand to witness something emotional, powerful, uplifting and inspirational when a group of people, all moving in the same direction for a common , made miracles happen. The entire room was moved to tears as they watched the numbers climb, even after the check was presented, exceeding even our wildest expectations. Thank you to all who volunteered, participated, sponsored, donated, attended and made September 9th a remarkable day to remember. This event and its powerful check presentation doesn’t happen without all of our hole sponsors, beverage cart sponsors, hole-in-one sponsors, dinner sponsors and amazing volunteers. All of this generosity and hard work helped to create moments where a dying father was able to rest a little easier knowing the community was helping him care for his daughters. STAND UP FOR DAWG NATION Each year, this show features some of the top headline comedians in Denver and always sells out. This year was no different despite being rescheduled due to a winter storm called the bomb cyclone! “Stand Up for Dawg Nation IX” was another spectacular event on all levels as we combined tears, cheers and of course laughs! The generosity was humbling and powerful as we once again set records on every front! Many incredible moments made this one of our most memorable nights ever. A big shout out to our great comedians - Brandt Tobler, David Rodriguez, Elliot Woolsey and Sam Adams! Of course it wouldn’t be a DAWG event without a check presentation or two. DAWG Nation is an advocate and proponent of the disabled athlete and showed our support to a valued partner, the Warrior Avs Sled Hockey program, with a check for $5,000. We also rallied to the aid of Tanner Doty with a check for $11,000 to help with medical bills from an infection around his heart. DAWG Nation’s support reached out all the way to Humboldt, SK, Canada as $5,500 in proceeds were donated back to the Humboldt Broncos to help them rebuild their program. While all of our attendees , supporters, and comics were STANDING UP for DAWG Nation, together we helped our recipients stand up on the solid ground of community support in their time of need. PREPARATION FOR THE 2019 WINTER CLASSIC

Yet another display of teamwork and community in action as an entire army of generous souls stepped up again! DAWG Nation’s pond hockey tournament, The DAWG Nation Winter Classic, represents the best of DAWG Nation in so many ways. First of all, former recipients and inspiration for our original pond hockey tournament Dave and Amanda Repsher were an integral part of the planning, preparation and execution of this tournament. Together with the entire DREP crew, we spent countless hours clearing snow, flooding the ice, building benches, working on the boards, and painting boards. Building an outdoor arena with nine rinks, a beer tent, a warming tent, and making it inclusive for sled hockey was a feat made possible by the commitment and tenacity of DREP and DAWG Nation volunteers. It was all worth it in the end as we knew we were working towards the greater goal of GIVING BACK to Megan Lococo and Andy Finney. Megan, seven months pregnant and a mother of a two year old, was widowed in December when her 38 year old husband passed tragically of a heart attack while playing hockey. Andy Finney is fighting stage four pancreatic cancer. As we worked through the long cold nights, alongside Dave Repsher, we did so we these soon to be recipients in mind. D-REP MOVIE NIGHT All of Dawg Nation knows Dave and Amanda Repsher, and now their story is on the big screen. October 27 was a special night as Dawg Nation hosted the premiere of the documentary, DREP. Over 400 packed Denver's Gothic Theater. Touchingly directed by ten-time Emmy Award winner Mike Mazzanti, the film shows Dave's survival and long recovery from a Flight for Life helicopter crash in 2015. Following the screening, Mazzanti presented the Repshers with a picture of them taken on the set. Dave and Amanda reciprocated by giving Mike a DREP jersey. He immediately donned it and it's doubtful he has removed it yet! Dawg Nation played a very important role in Dave's unlikely recovery, raising almost $150,000 that afforded Amanda the ability to remain by Dave's side."It is an amazing story of hope and courage," said Dawg Nation President and CEO Martin Richardson. Richardson added, "Most of all this movie tells the love story of Dave and Amanda." For our recipients, it is important that we walk alongside them in every aspect of their recovery. It was a privilege to create this night as a gift to the Repshers and share this love story with everyone in attendance. This was an important night as the Repshers invited DAWG Nation to use this event to announce the project launch of "Hockey’s Heart", a three sheet ice complex designed for the disabled athlete in mind with only positive impacts for other stakeholders. In an incredible act of generosity, the Repshers started off the giving dedicated to this project with a gift of $250,000. AVS 5K We are always honored to be the non-profit recipient of the AVS 5K, and each year provides new & powerful stories of inspiration. We use our stage and microphone to highlight our continued and meaningful relationships with our recipients - each having their own amazing story that needed to be told. Like Porter Johnson and Jack Rodell, two little fellas showing us all that life doesn’t stop after a cancer diagnosis. Like Emi Fryzlewicz who at age 8 proved to us all that open heart surgery is not the end but rather a beginning! We even gave a beautiful Saint Bernard puppy named Watson to Bretlyn & Charlie Schmidtmann after tragically losing their dog in a fire, and this year Watson not only completed the course but garnered attention from hundreds of admirers! And finally Todd Smith, battling Stage- 4 cancer, who surprised us all by crossing the finish line in his wheelchair with the help of Dawg Nation’s Mike Freeman. We are grateful for our ongoing and impactful relationship with the . Jan Hejda

"Over the years we have given back $2.0M to people & projects - I give back to Dawg Nation because I see how its assistance changes lives." Jan Hejda, 10 Year NHL Career FINANCIALS Financial stewardship is paramount Operations 24% to our cause. We believe in maximizing every dollar to help families in need. One hundred percent of donations targeted directly to recipients goes to recipients. Overall, seventy six

percent of net revenue goes directly Recipients to those in need. 76%

In-kind donations are critical to our In-Kind cause and help make our support 35% viable. Without hundreds of in-kind donations directly benefiting our auctions, events, and recipients, our ability to Give Back would be greatly Donations 65% diminished. While they don’t show up on our profit and loss statements, they help us thrive & do more.

We have watched our annual Giving Back 2,000,000 number climb from $20,371 in 2011 to an amazing $571,053 in 2019. Receiving that support are families that are grieving the 1,500,000 loss of a loved one, fighting a life- threatening illness or accident, or helping a 1,000,000 loved one recover from one - all benefiting from the hope and community we bring to 500,000 their unique situation. The BIG Check is just an invitation into their lives and allows us the privilege of walking alongside them on 0 Given Back their journey. DAWG NATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Todd Gehrke Chairman Greg Clinard Vice Chair Rob Packard Secretary Dave Chamberlin Board Member Bill Miller Board Member Matt Obert Board Member Milan Hejduk Honorary Board Member Peter McNab Honorary Board Member

Martin Richardson President & CEO Michael Freeman Executive Director DAWG NATION RINK CAPITAL CAMPAIGN BOARD

Greg Ahbe The Ahbe Group Jerry DeVaul Warrior Avalanche Sled Hockey George Gwozdecky Valor Christian High School Jan Hejda NHL Alumni Karin Kukral Northwood Investors Jack Mousseau MOA Architecture Jim Mundle Overdrive Raceway Josh Suter Vukota Capital Michael Vickers Compark Brooke Wilfley Aces Hockey Academy Erik Estrada Legal Advisor Aaron Alwell Marketing Advisor Jared Bednar

"Dawg Nation is a non-profit organization that you can be proud of. They work tirelessly to support those in need and to create incredible and memorable moments along the way." Jared Bednar, Avalanche Head Coach THE RINK PROJECT 2019 was an exciting year for DAWG Nation as we were selected by the City of Castle Pines for a ten plus acre land donation. WE are grateful to Mayor Tara Radloff who said, said this of our project: “We are excited to team up with Dawg Nation Hockey Foundation to make that dream a reality." This land, located east of I-25 off of Castle Pines Parkway, is the future home of our Rink Project: Building Hockey’s Heart. DAWG Nation will design, construct, and operate the nation’s first multi-sheet hockey facility which is purpose-built to support both disabled and able-bodied athletes.

At DAWG Nation, we believe that every ice hockey player regardless of skill level or physical ability should Play Hard, Play Fair & Give Back. We're taking this motto to a whole new level by building a modern three-sheet ice complex designed with enhanced accessibility to accommodate ALL players, including those who compete despite having some form of disability or unique challenge. This facility will help connect the surrounding communities in Colorado with both youth and adult programs, and is anchored by several nearby high school programs. The rink will also serve as the home to Colorado Sled Hockey Clubs with the capability of hosting both national and international sled hockey events. Our goal is to be the home of paralympic ice sports

We know this is ambitious, but with your help, this unique effort will be achieved. We have learned firsthand from our recipients who are disabled athletes the importance of creating an ice arena that is both inclusive and accessible. In doing so, we will be building a rink for EVERYONE. In order to accomplish this, we are partnering with some of Colorado’s leading companies. We also engaged Sports Facilities Advisory, LLC, one of the nation’s leading authorities in community and recreation and sports tourism facilities, to conduct an extensive feasibility study and economic impact study. We hope you’ll join with us to make this dream become reality! Letter From the DAWG Father

DAWG Nation Foundation promotes community by creating opportunities in recreational and competitive ice hockey, while supporting players and their families in high standards of health, wellness and fair play. Visit us at: Begun in 2011 as a way to honor a fallen dawgnationhockey.org teammate, we have grown from a small group Contact us: of adult hockey players to a powerful force on DAWG Nation the Colorado hockey scene. Because of your 10658 W Centennial generosity, we will be able to help many Blvd Suite 200 players and their families, and they'll know Littleton, CO 80127 they have a whole bunch of hockey players (720) 432-9471 standing right behind them as they face their challenges.

Sincerely, DAWG Nation Hockey foundation

Martin Richardson CEO, President & Founder A special THANKS to our major 2019 sponsors: TO BECOME INVOLVED...

CONTACT DAWG NATION HOCKEY FOUNDATION AT: [email protected]