Tuesday, 9 April 2019

For the month of April 2019 Jefferson Award for Outstanding Community Service goes to Rich Garrison of the York Polar Bears Ice Hockey Team.  Rich took his own battle with PTSD and his long-standing military career and turned it into something special for kids who need it most.

A regular kid’s hockey practice, right?  Boys, girls, and what's this? A chair. It's the only sign these kids may need a little extra help on the ice.  That helping hand comes from Rich Garrison, his team of coaches, and the Polar Bears Hockey Club.  "I was wounded in Afghanistan and I became a part of the USA Warriors, a hockey team for combat wounded warriors," Rich said.  While with the USA Warriors, Rich played in exhibition games with special needs children's teams.  Every year he and his wife would talk about establishing a special needs hockey team here in Central Pennsylvania, but things got in the way, until a very special night.

"A couple weeks later, she was sitting at the table drinking coffee on a Saturday morning and I come down, in from the bedroom and said, 'I just had the wildest dream,'" Rich said.  "I said I had a dream too," Rich's wife, Vicki Garrison said. "I've always been a dreamer."  "But mine was a little more because it had the name bears in it," Rich said. "I like the Hershey Bears and I like the name "black bears," so the name was polar bears and I said 'Wow.'" The rest they say is history, and a lot of hard work.

Vicki, Rich and his team of coaches and helpers began raising money through fundraisers to make sure these kids have everything they need including uniforms and guidance.  "So, we bought a bunch of uniforms, jerseys, and once we handed them out to the players, they all started skating together," Rich said.  "I teach, and so on Friday, I'm exhausted and I come here, and I get another jolt of energy from these kids," Polar Bears Coach Andrew Rafferty said. "You wouldn't know to watch them that they may be fighting something outside of here but yes, they are impressive."  The saying goes; it takes a village to raise a child.  But this village started with Rich's life savings, a sign of his dedication.  And the chair?  It's a sign of the team's ingenuity.  A chair is just a chair. It's not a walker, something many of these kids used to learn their first steps, but just another chair. There with a strong back to lean on and four legs of support.  And support is what makes the Bears organization work.

For the month of April 2019 Jefferson Award for Outstanding Community Service goes to Rich Garrison of the York Polar Bears Ice Hockey Team.  Rich took his own battle with PTSD and his long-standing military career and turned it into something special for kids who need it most.

A regular kid’s hockey practice, right?  Boys, girls, and what's this? A chair. It's the only sign these kids may need a little extra help on the ice.  That helping hand comes from Rich Garrison, his team of coaches, and the Polar Bears Hockey Club.  "I was wounded in Afghanistan and I became a part of the USA Warriors, a hockey team for combat wounded warriors," Rich said.  While with the USA Warriors, Rich played in exhibition games with special needs children's teams.  Every year he and his wife would talk about establishing a special needs hockey team here in Central Pennsylvania, but things got in the way, until a very special night.

"A couple weeks later, she was sitting at the table drinking coffee on a Saturday morning and I come down, in from the bedroom and said, 'I just had the wildest dream,'" Rich said.  "I said I had a dream too," Rich's wife, Vicki Garrison said. "I've always been a dreamer."  "But mine was a little more because it had the name bears in it," Rich said. "I like the Hershey Bears and I like the name "black bears," so the name was polar bears and I said 'Wow.'" The rest they say is history, and a lot of hard work.

Vicki, Rich and his team of coaches and helpers began raising money through fundraisers to make sure these kids have everything they need including uniforms and guidance.  "So, we bought a bunch of uniforms, jerseys, and once we handed them out to the players, they all started skating together," Rich said.  "I teach, and so on Friday, I'm exhausted and I come here, and I get another jolt of energy from these kids," Polar Bears Coach Andrew Rafferty said. "You wouldn't know to watch them that they may be fighting something outside of here but yes, they are impressive."  The saying goes; it takes a village to raise a child.  But this village started with Rich's life savings, a sign of his dedication.  And the chair?  It's a sign of the team's ingenuity.  A chair is just a chair. It's not a walker, something many of these kids used to learn their first steps, but just another chair. There with a strong back to lean on and four legs of support.  And support is what makes the Bears organization work.

Congratulations to USA Warriors' very own, Rich Garrison, for a well-deserved recognition #NoneTougher #HockeyHeals #HockeyIsForEveryone