Last week, the Ripken Foundation proudly launched our first ever Badges on the Blue Line program. In this partnership with the Dallas Stars, 60 kids from St. Philips School & Community Center in Dallas, TX gathered for a floor hockey clinic where they were taught the basics of hockey from NHL’s Dallas Stars center, Tyler Seguin, the Dallas Stars Xtreme Team, and members of the Dallas Police Hockey Foundation.
Modeled after our signature Badges for Baseball program, Badges on the Blue Line similarly brings together youth and local law enforcement to mentor youth using ice hockey as the hook to get kids engaged. Because sports is just the stimulus for our mentors to incorporate our life skills curriculum, we can implement our program with any sport to helps kids learn about teamwork, communication, and respect. Badges on the Blue Line marked the first time we have expanded our programming to also include hockey.
Tyler Seguin, a five-time NHL All-Star, was excited about participating in our new program. After the workout, Seguin said, "I definitely think that it's important that we can see the police and understand that we're all on the same side. I think we need to really help to make sure there is respect on both sides."
Similarly, at the Ripken Foundation, we believe by teaming up kids with their local law enforcement officers, whether on a playing field or a hockey rink, the universal principles of sports help foster respect and create opportunities for mentorship.
The Ripken Foundation is grateful to our law enforcement partners for their time devoted to strengthening relationships with the youngest members of their communities. The Ripken Foundation thanks our law enforcement partners for their dedication to the success of our Badges programs!