Jason Ritchie found solace and purpose on the ice. More than just a sport, hockey taught him invaluable life lessons, especially the importance of teamwork, accountability and dedication. After his untimely passing, his parents wanted to honor his legacy by launching a foundation that uses hockey to help other youth discover and live up to their potential.

Baseball, hockey and football sports legends will give an “assist” to the Ritchie Hockey Foundation, participating in a golf tournament to help raise funds and advance the foundation’s mission to provide resources and mentoring to hard-working, deserving youth who share in Jason’s drive and dedication – kids who play their hearts out on the ice. The tourney will be held on January 26 at TPC Tampa Bay, a Golf Digest 4.5 star-rated course that has been named one of the top five golf courses in Florida by Florida Golf Magazine. The organization is also hosting a youth goalie clinic on January 27.

“Hockey was what Jason loved. This foundation was established to help deserving youth who share his same passion for the sport,” said Donna Ritchie, president of The Jason Ritchie Hockey Foundation and Jason’s mother. Donna and her husband, Bob, CEO of American Integrity Insurance Company, started the foundation in 2009, which has raised over $800,000 since its inception.

“We’re thrilled that these sports legends, along with so many generous members of the community, have joined with us to honor Jason by helping youth hockey players,” said Bob Ritchie. “We’ve hosted fundraising events in the Boston area, where Jason attended prep school, and hosted our inaugural golf tournament fundraiser last year in Tampa featuring Lightning and Bruins alumni players. We’re proud to expand the foundation’s reach by including high-profile athletes from other sports.”

Proceeds from this year’s event will be used to support the Guide the Thunder program, and to provide scholarships to aspiring youth hockey players who otherwise would not have the opportunity to excel scholastically and athletically. It teaches important life strengths such as character, selflessness, and drive, using the same skills that are required in hockey – persistence, teamwork, and commitment. The Ritchie Hockey Foundation is funded exclusively by individual and corporate donations as well as grant funding from other services.

For more information about The Ritchie Hockey Foundation, please visit http://ritchiehockeyfoundation.org/.

About The Ritchie Hockey Foundation

The Ritchie Hockey Foundation (RHF), established by the Ritchie family in memory of Jason Ritchie who was tragically killed in a car accident in 2009, aims to provide resources and mentoring to youth who share in Jason’s drive and dedication. The RHF will help to shape the lives of tomorrow’s leaders by investing in deserving youth recognizing that hockey builds Character, Commitment, Teamwork, Persistence, Selflessness, Academic Excellence and Sportsmanship. The RHF is funded exclusively by individual and corporate donations as well as grant funding from other sources.