Game On Magazine 2017 March 2018 | Page 60

M ANITOBA MOOSE IN T HE COM MU NITY Manitoba Moose Autism Awareness Campaign B Y K O RY H A R N U M Photos by Jonathan Kozub/Manitoba Moose At the St.Amant Spirit Cottage S ince the return of the Manitoba Moose to Winnipeg in 2015, one of the largest community initiatives they have taken on each year is the Autism Awareness campaign. This year will be no different. The Moose are partnering with the St.Amant foundation once again for their Autism Awareness Campaign, which will take place throughout the month of March. A number of plans are in place for the official Autism Awareness Game will take place on March 31, in a lead 6 0 | G A M E O N | P L AY OF F ED IT ION 2 0 1 8 up to World Autism Day on April 2. Earlier this year, five players from the Manitoba Moose spent an afternoon at the St.Amant Spirit Cottage with some of the kids that the program supports. Spirit Cottage is a facility available for families to use that are affected by autism, free of charge, for stays up to one-week for holidays, birthday parties, family reunions, special holidays or just to enjoy some family time. Players had an opportunity to play games with the children, make puzzles and read books. They also spent time outdoors tobogganing and roasting marshmallows on the campfire. This visit served as an opportunity for some of the players to see first-hand where funds have been designated from previous autism awareness campaigns by the Moose, in a lead up to the March games. During each Manitoba Moose home game throughout the month of March, fans attending a game will have an opportunity to purchase an autographed puzzle featuring one of six players from the Moose roster. There are a limited number of puzzles and each will sell for $20, with proceeds benefitting the St. Amant Foundation.