Bulls have another rewarding year with community involvement
April 24, 2017
It was another busy but rewarding year for the NAHL's Amarillo Bulls in the Texas Panhandle.
One of the things that separates the Bulls from other junior hockey teams is the vastness of the territory that they serve which spans four states Texas, New Mexico, Kansas and Oklahoma. The Bulls gave back over 100 hours to community events and activities while helping organizations raise money through donations of tickets, merchandise and jersey auctions. The three post game auctions raised nearly $80,000 in total for three deserving organizations the Fallen Warrior Memorial Foundation, Children’s Miracle Network and Amarillo Youth Hockey.
Among the community events the Bulls attending this year included the March of Dimes Kick-off Luncheon, United Way Youth Day, and the Ambucs Luncheon. Bulls players also helped out at Amarillo Youth Hockey Association by volunteering for on-ice practices, and off-ice condition sessions.
Some of the other activities during the season included the Girls Scouts Cookie Arrival, as well as visits to several Amarillo Independent School District Schools, dinners with families at the Amarillo Children’s Home, Heartis Senior Living Visits and annual trips to see children during the holidays at Northwest Texas Hospital and BSA Hospital.
One of the big events the past season that was spearheaded by Captain Matt Nehls was involvement with Snack Pak 4 Kids. Nehls contributed over 70 hours towards the organization that provides food to students attending schools in the Texas Panhandle. To date, Snack Pak 4 Kids has served over 7,000 students in 39 districts.
Nehls and several teammates were regular helpers at the facility whether it was stocking the shelves, planting or maintaining the community garden. The Boulder, Colorado native also brought out the entire Bulls team to the facility where they helped pack snack bags.
Ashley York from Snack Pak 4 Kids said that Nehls and the Bulls were an important part to their organization this year.
“I’ve watch Matt grow into an outstanding and dedicated servant in our community,” York said in a letter to the Bulls. “He has spent a great deal of his time serving other organizations and schools in our community as well. Matt is reliable, committed, hardworking, and leads by example. He has a servant’s heart, and is known for his work ethic, positive attitude, teamwork mentality, leadership, and diligence. He is well respected throughout the organization for his loyalty to the program. Throughout the time I’ve known him, he has shown me time and again that he is a positive, motivated leader with amazing potential.”
York went on to say, that “during his time here, he has played an important role in our Garden 4 Kids project and our Snack Pak bag packing events. He and his teammates are terrific with the kids they encounter through our program. Matt has been an excellent role model both as a volunteer for SP4K, and in our community. Not only is he an outstanding team leader, but he also displays exceptional strength of character.”
The Bulls work in the community doesn’t stop once the season is over. In fact, beginning next weekend the Bulls staff and summer interns will begin by attending the Yellow Comic-Con Event at the Amarillo Civic Center. It’s the first of several major events in the weeks ahead that includes the annual Amarillo Chamber of Commerce Business Connection.
