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Dayton Gems To Raise Funds For Local Family On “Pack The House Night”
“Proceeds of every ticket sold for March 24th game to benefit local infant and his family”
Dayton, OH – The Dayton Gems professional hockey team announced today that they will be holding a special fundraiser night for local infant Caleb Zwiebel and his family when the Gems host the Fort Wayne Komets on March 24 for “Pack The House Night” inside the historic Hara Arena. Caleb Zwiebel, a one year old infant from Lakeview, Ohio, was injured along with his parents in an automobile accident on August 9, 2011. While his parents were ejected from the vehicle, Caleb remained in the wreckage and was transported to Children’s Medical Center where doctors discovered he was paralyzed. Despite his struggles, he has now been discharged home along with his parents but continues to battle against the odds and though the healing process. Now able to move his arms and legs, the family is weighing their options on the next steps, including an expensive overseas treatment with Stem Cell therapy in the hopes to allow him to one day walk, run and play with his peers.
After being contacted by a close family friend earlier in March, the Gems have stepped up to help the Zweibel family raise funds for Caleb’s continued treatments. As part of the Gems final home game of the 2011-2012 season, also known as “Pack The House Night”, the Gems will be donating $1 from every ticket sold to the special March 24th game, and will donate an additional $2,000 to the Zweibel family if the game is sold out.
“Our family could have never imagined that we would face such a tragedy, and through lots of prayer and faith Caleb has come this far, commented Caleb’s grandmother Hope. We are forever grateful to the Dayton Gems for having “Pack the House” night for Caleb. Through the generosity of the Gems fans and family we will be one step closer to the care he needs. The Dayton Gems have shown the values, love and spirit that the community was built on.”
After hosting a similar benefit last January for area cancer patient and high school senior Jimmy Jenks, the Gems were again called upon by the community to raise awareness and funds for a deserving local family in the utmost need.
“As a part of our community, it is very important to us and a responsibility to help those families in need” noted Gems team president Joe Greene. “Again we were contacted by someone close to the family, who had heard of our previous charitable works in the community, and urged us to become involved in the struggle the Zwiebel family faces. That goes much farther beyond just a hockey game, when we have the chance to help change someone’s life for the better”
Edited by RemembertheBombers, 19 March 2012 - 09:31 AM.
