By Jeremy Lemoine

Worcester, Mass. – Through the Worcester Sharks first season here in Worcester, many thanks need to go around to the fans, city dignitaries, and partners for their undying effort and support to help the Sharks succeed.

Of all these people, there is one particular group that deserves a large thank you. That happens to be the Worcester Sharks Booster Club.

The Sharks Booster Club has a long history of giving back to the community. Over the past 10 years they have donated over $100,000 to local charities such as Pernet Family Services, American Red Cross, Plumley Village Fire Assistance, Worcester Firefighters Foundation, Massachusetts Special Olympics, Devereux Foundation of Massachusetts, WTAG Christmas for Children Fund and American Cancer Society Relay for Life – just to name a few.

This season, the Sharks Booster Club continued their charitable ways. The Club donated $1000 worth of toys to the Friendly House for their annual Christmas Party. Half of that $1000 was raised at the annual Booster Holiday Party through a special raffle of Worcester Sharks items donated by the Worcester Sharks.

Aside from giving money, the Booster’s give their time. Time is important and when a small army of Sharks supporters are willing to help out in the community, it goes a long way. One instance of this is when the Booster Club helped stuff 2,000 goodie bags for the Special Olympics athletes and families.

A program more recently begun by the Sharks Boosters is their new “Booster Seats.” This program was created so families who are less fortunate can attend a Worcester Sharks home game. Local organizations such as Why Me and Rainbow Child Development Center received tickets to the game at the DCU Center, a rally towel and a free Friendly’s ice cream.

Michael Myers, Community Relations Manager, serves as the liaison between the Worcester Sharks front office and the Booster Club. The Club works so hard to give back to the community and as well as help the Sharks get more fans interested in exciting AHL hockey.

“The Sharks Booster Club has been instrumental in not just helping to bring hockey back to Worcester, but in making the Sharks first season a complete success,” he said. “We can’t thank them enough for the numerous efforts put forth in the community and on game days. Everything they do goes a long way and we look forward to being able to work with them every season.”

The newest Booster Club project is to put together a scholarship in the future to benefit a former Midstate Junior Sharks player. This scholarship will be available to students in the area who are former players of the Midstate Junior Sharks program and will attend college.