Skating for a good cause
Quite often, away from the blather of loud egos vying for our attention, people like Ben Rabinovitz quietly do good work to help someone else.
Not that Rabinovitz is downplaying the event he is organizing on April 3.
His group, Skating 4 The Nation, will put on a charity hockey game to benefit our bereavement center, Hope Floats Healing & Wellness Center.
It’s going to be a fun afternoon, from 3-6 at the Rockland Ice Arena, 599 Summer St, in Rockland. And very affordable for all, with a $5 admission, and free for children under five.
On the ice will be a team that includes some friends of the 28-year-old Weymouth resident, plus National Guard veterans who helped Rabinovitz’s group raise money for returning soldiers and their families a few years ago.
The South Shore Colonials will take on our Hope Floats Dragonflies. Some of our son Mike’s friends, longtime players, are expected to join in!
Please join us for a light afternoon with friends and families. There will be face painting for the kids, raffles, an appearance by the Plymouth Pilgrims’ mascot Gobbles giving out season’s passes, delicious eats, and more.
These guys are doing it for the love of the game; that’s what it comes down to. — Ben Rabinovitz
Courtesy Smokey Stax BBQ of Hingham
Big Frank from Smokey Stax BBQ of Hingham will be on hand with his pit smoker for some bites.
A group of riders from the Patriot Guard are expected to make an entrance on their bikes to rev things up.
There will be a championship cup, blasting goal horns, and players’ board hopping on to the ice.
Rabinovitz, who began organizing hockey games in 2012, still needs some players–mostly forwards and defenders–and volunteers. He can be contacted at skating4thenation@gmail.com, and on the group’s Facebook page.
Volunteers can show up on game day; there is a $40 fee for players that includes a jersey and after-party.
“When you put it together, the gamesmanship and fundraising, that’s a perfect Sunday right there,” he said. “These guys are doing it for the love of the game; that’s what it comes down to.”
“It’s a chance to do something, and a chance for local talent to come out and get recognized,” he added.
Ben was introduced to Hope Floats last year by his boss at Edmar Floor Care Center in Plymouth. Edmar’s affiliated company, Bissell Big Green, is helping sponsor the event.
Rabinovitz, who grew up in Hingham, ran—or skated—with the idea of doing hockey charity when his best friend’s cousin returned home from Afghanistan with the National Guard in 2012. Learning about the every day items many families of active duty members need, he set out do something. For two weeks he drive around with fliers, and the first match benefitted the National Military Families Association.
Proceeds from a second game the next year also went to the national association, raising about $2,000.
This year, we are grateful that Ben has set his sights locally—which he wants to continue.
In our seventh year supporting families who face life crises, Hope Floats can use your help.
This winter we are providing nine free support groups, many in partnership with Cranberry Area Hospice, including those for parents who’ve lost a child, suicide loss, partner-spouse loss, and a teen grief group. Last fall, Hope Floats began a support group for survivors of drug addiction and opioid loss, and soon we will offer a proactive group to help those who have attempted suicide.
We are the only bereavement center in the region offering such an array of supports and complementary wellness programs. Hope Floats is located at 4 Elm Street, Kingston, and the Hope Floats Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit. See you along the boards!
Thanks to our sponsor for the Skating 4 The Nation April 3 fundraiser: Edmar Floor Care, dba Bissell Big Green!
Cake from 2015 Memory Walk courtesy of Sugarplum Bakery in Kingston! Hope Floats’ 3d annual Memory Walk is April 30, 2016!