The Power of Community: Giving Tuesday 2024

Happy Giving Tuesday Stingrays fans! 

This Giving Tuesday, we are thrilled to highlight the incredible impact we are making in our community. 

We began the season with a Hurricane Helene Relief Drive, which held special significance given the widespread devastation caused by the storm across Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee, and parts of South Carolina. We knew we had to step in with these areas so deeply affected. Thanks to your generous support, we filled an entire box truck with essential items, including water, baby supplies, pet care products, and more. All donations that were collected were taken to Asheville, North Carolina, by Palmetto Paint Specialties Inc. to aid those in need.

In just a few months since our team’s arrival, we’ve been fully committed to giving back to the local community. 

Over the past two months alone, the Stingrays have volunteered more than 140 hours, engaging in a variety of initiatives—from participating in the Reading Buddies program presented by Neal Brothers at local schools to assisting at youth hockey practices at the Carolina Ice Palace during travel breaks. 

Even when the players are on the road, our beloved mascot, Cool Ray, continues to represent in the community. In October and November, Cool Ray attended over 20 local events, including favorites like the City of North Charleston’s Night Out, Fish or Treat at the South Carolina Aquarium, and Pepperhill’s Trunk or Treat.

In early November, the Stingrays partnered with the North Charleston Community Resource Center to host a special Stingrays Community Night, inviting all members of the center to join in the fun. Three players—Micah Miller, Kyler Kupka, and Reilly Webb—attended the event and led an exciting street hockey game for the kids. We were thrilled to provide a variety of items for the children to take home, including T-shirts, water bottles, autographed photos, stickers, pens, and foam pucks. ServiceMaster of Charleston team brought out their ice cream truck, treating families to complimentary ice cream. The evening was filled with joy and laughter, serving as a wonderful opportunity to give back to our local North Charleston community!

This past weekend, we hosted a free NHL Street Hockey Clinic at the North Charleston Sports Complex, where over 20 kids attended. Each participant received a complimentary NHL Street jersey and took part in a two-hour clinic led by Stingrays President Rob Concannon, Charleston Youth Hockey Coach Ryan Blair, and current Stingrays Assistant Coach Mike Hamilton. At the end of the clinic, players Jacob Graves, Tyler Weiss, and Jordan Klimek surprised the kids by signing jerseys and sticks.

Another meaningful initiative the Stingrays are proud to lead is our Assist of the Game. At each home game, Stingrays owner Todd Halloran donates $1,993 (our founding year) to local nonprofits, reinforcing our ongoing commitment to strengthening the community. This season, we’ve already had the privilege of supporting the following organizations:

• Lowcountry Land Trust
• Dusty Tails Animal Rescue
• Charleston Hope Lodge
• Alala Cancer Society
• Camp Happy Days
• Battle Buddies
• Lowcountry Regional EMS
• LOST Bus
• Community Resource Center

We're excited to continue this initiative throughout the season and also look forward to donating items from our upcoming Teddy Bear Toss and Undie Sunday games presented by Crews Chevrolet and Gildan. The teddy bears collected during our Saturday game will be distributed to:

• Jean’s Angels
• 180Place
• Community Resource Center
• Lowcountry Orphan Relief
• Salvation Army
• Charleston HALOS

The donations from our Undie Sunday presented by Gildan game will go to:

• Jean’s Angels
• 180Place
• Community Resource Center
• Lowcountry Orphan Relief
• Salvation Army
• Charleston HALOS

This holiday season, we are excited to partner with Blanton and Sons to bring some extra cheer to families in need within our local community. 

Together, we will be providing Christmas trees to seven deserving families, ensuring they have a festive centerpiece to celebrate the season. The spirit of giving is at the heart of this collaboration, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to share the joy of the holidays with those who may need a little extra support this year. It’s our way of spreading warmth and holiday cheer, and we’re proud to make a positive impact in the lives of our neighbors during this special time of year.

Thank you so much for being an essential part of these efforts and for helping us make a positive impact in our community. Your support means the world to us, and we’re incredibly grateful for everything you do. As we look ahead, we’re excited for all the incredible things to come. 

Together, we are shaping a brighter future for our community—and we can’t wait to see what we’ll achieve next!

Sincerely,

The South Carolina Stingrays

LEARN MORE

Click here to learn more about the Community Programs and Initiatives that the South Carolina Stingrays are involved in.