FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 2019 Contact: Dave Marley, Pharm.D. • 336-771-7672 • [email protected] MARLEY DRUG DONATES $54,000 TO BRING NEW IN-SCHOOL FLOOR HOCKEY PROGRAM TO FORSYTH COUNTY Winston, Salem, North Carolina, 1-28-19 – Winston-Salem, NC - In partnership with the Carolina Thunderbirds, Marley Drug is pleased to announce a new in-school sports program that adds another fun activity to Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools curriculum and will help to grow the sport of hockey in the State of North Carolina. The Thunderbirds/Marley Drug Floor Hockey Program (working title) was announced today and will see sets of floor hockey sticks, nets, balls and program curriculum manuals given out to all 60 elementary schools and middle schools in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools district. “Youth hockey has been an important part of my family for almost 10 years.” Dave Marley of Marley Drug said. “With this donation we hope to introduce the great sport of hockey to hundreds of young kids who otherwise might not be exposed to the thrill of having a hockey stick in their hands. We are fortunate to have the support of the Carolina Thunderbirds to introduce floor hockey to the K-8 grades of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County schools.” The program is designed to teach the game of hockey and challenge kids who try it by using their physical abilities while learning a sport they may not be familiar with, all while developing an entirely new skill set at an athletic level. Everything from basic positioning and technique to shooting and passing drills will be taught to kids who participate in the program. “Our overall goal is simple, grow our great game by putting a stick in every kids hand in Forsyth County” Thunderbirds President/ GM Scott Brand said. “Aside from the growth of hockey the goal is also to encourage kids to be active and fit playing a sport that is rewarding on all kinds of levels.” The state of North Carolina is currently seeing a renaissance of sorts in ice hockey at the professional level with the Carolina Thunderbirds (Federal Hockey League) as well as the Charlotte Checkers (American Hockey League) leading their leagues so far this season. In addition, the Fayetteville Marksmen (SPHL) are in a playoff position and the Carolina Hurricanes (NHL) are fighting for playoff position as of this writing. “The trickle-down effect from the success of North Carolina pro hockey teams seeps down to the college level, then to high school and juniors and all the way to the youth level where a program like this will surely inspire kids to dream big and consider hockey as a sport to adopt for life.” Brand said. The school district is very excited for the new program to start up, none more so than Sara Harmon WS/FCS Health and Physical Education Manager. “Part of our elementary and middle school PE curriculum focuses on how to successfully strike an object with a long-handled implement used in such sports as hockey, baseball, and softball” Harmon said. “Safety is always a concern in these lessons and having the floor hockey equipment and curriculum provided through this donation will give us a safer way to use hockey to teach those skills to students in grades K-8. A lot of the floor hockey equipment is also suitable for use in other activity units, allowing us to expose more students to a greater variety of movement activities. It helps us provide safe exposure to more sports and more skills and that’s a win for students!” The Thunderbirds/Marley Drug Floor Hockey Program (working title) will launch next school year at all 60 elementary schools and middle schools in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools district. It will be announced formally to the public at Friday night’s (January 25) hockey game between the Carolina Thunderbirds and the Mentor Ice Breakers at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds Annex. Independently owned, Marley Drug was established in 2003 by Dave Marley, PharmD to offer accessible, cost effective and high quality pharmacy services to employers and other health care consumers in North Carolina. In 2011, Marley Drug expanded its reach, and is serving 50 states and Washington D.C. with their Extended Supply mail order drug program. Marley Drug is committed to improving the health status of their patients and the communities they serve while reducing overall health care costs for employers and other health care consumers. For more information visit www.marleydrug.com. To learn more about The Extended Supply Generic Drug Program call 800.286.6781 or email [email protected]. ###.