Minnetonka Youth Hockey

The Kelly Phillips Foundation has been hard at work this past year with the DinoMights Hockey Program in Minneapolis.   The DinoMights program helps introduce urban kids to the game of hockey and is devoted to physical, academic, social and spiritual development.   It is an organization which has a profound impact on the children it serves.  Kids who participate in DinoMights have an 85% high school graduation rate compared to 55% for Minneapolis schools.  We are pleased and thankful that so many MYHA friends and families have found a way to provide a volunteer service or a financial donation to help the DinoMights this year.

Last November, the Kelly Phillips Foundation sponsored two tables at the annual DinoMights fundraiser held at International Market Square.  In January, we sponsored the “Laces and Blade Blankets” fundraiser for the DinoMights so that we could put new laces and blade protection on all of the donated skates used for the Learn 2 Skate program.   Thank you to the Minnetonka families who participated with a financial or equipment donation.    

We also had many KP volunteers, including MHS boys and girls high school players, provide instruction (and fun!)  to first graders from elementary schools in the city.  It is a great feeling to see so many kids skating for the first time and it is amazing how many of them progress so quickly.   In August, we sponsored a car wash in Minnetonka to raise money for kids in the DinoMights program to attend  church camp.

A  special thanks to Eric Johnson and the Impact Hockey staff who conducted a week- long camp for the DinoMights in August at Minnetonka’s Pagel Arena.    Minnetonka volunteers served as tutors for the DinoMights and one Minnetonka volunteer also taught a financial fundamentals class at a Dino power camp for Bantam age kids.   

All of this work has been done to honor Kelly Phillips -- one of our own hockey players who was killed in a car accident in her senior year at Minnetonka .    As an organization, we strive to serve others in Kelly’s memory -- Live Like Kelly:  Faith, Compassion and Service.    If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Dan Phillips at dphil10725@aol.com.  You may also get more information on the following websites:  www.kellyphillipsfoundation.org and www.dinomights.com. 

The Kelly Phillips Foundation is also committed to providing financial help in the form of MYHA scholarships to help families in need participate in hockey. 

For more information, please feel free to contact the committee members:

Dan Phillips                      Jill Ramsey

Eric Johnson                    Sharon Morgan

Bryan Price                      Sue Holl

JoEllen Price                    J Lindsey