Yonkers resident and Iona Prep High School honors student James Chirico has raised $1,000 for hockey players with special needs through a used hockey equipment drive he created.
Throughout the entirety of his junior year, James, now a senior, collected gently-used and outgrown hockey equipment for the benefit of the players of the New York Raptors, a non-profit organization and hockey team for players with special needs. Chirico approached two hockey equipment pro shops, Pure Hockey in New Rochelle and xHockey Pro Shop in Elmsford, and his high school and enlisted their help by setting up donation bins to act as drop-off locations to generate support and awareness for his equipment drive.
Chirico collected more than 500 pieces of donated hockey equipment consisting of sticks, gloves, pants, skates and pads, which filled up the basement in his home. Raptor players were offered the opportunity to take any of the collected gear for their own use. The remaining gear was sold to a used hockey equipment broker, Eric Fanelli of Fanelli Hockey.
The NY Raptors is an organization that focuses on helping people with special needs through the teamwork and physical and mental skills needed for ice hockey.
“I chose to work with the NY Raptors not only because I like hockey and volunteer as a coach and a referee for them, but because I have two younger special-needs cousins who I am close to,” said Chirico. “Hockey has been very important to me growing up so I wanted to give back to the sport. It has taught me about teamwork. I wanted to help families whose children want to play hockey but don’t have the necessary means.”
The New York Raptors is a “special ice hockey” program designed to bring the thrill of hockey to players of all abilities. Special hockey is a unique program open to children and adults with developmental and other disabilities who are unable or ineligible to participate in other organized hockey programs due to their disabilities. The players’ disabilities do not affect their ability to play hockey and have a great time. NY Raptors are members of USA Hockey, Special Hockey International and American Special Hockey. The team is classified as a 501(c)3 charity.
