Finnish Flash To Headline Rady JCC “Y” Sports Dinner

December 20, 2016

Winnipeg, MB –The Rady Jewish Community Centre is excited to announce former Winnipeg Jet Teemu Selanne as its keynote speaker for the 45th Annual Rady JCC “Y” Sports Dinner on May 10, 2017.

“As a long-time Winnipeg sports fan, I’m thrilled Teemu Selanne is headlining our dinner this year,” says Blair Worb, “Y” Sports Dinner Chair. “There is no bigger name recognizable in Winnipeg, but it’s the values he lives by that so closely align with the Rady JCC as an organization.”

Selanne was a first round selection of the Winnipeg Jets, tenth overall, at the 1988 NHL Entry Draft. He broke into the NHL by scoring 76 goals in 1992–93 while a member of the Jets. It remains the league record for most goals by a rookie and earned him the Calder Memorial Trophy as the top first-year player in the NHL.

Selanne is the highest scoring Finnish-born player in NHL history, and among the top scorers in league history overall. He retired in 2014 11th all-time with 684 goals and 15th with 1,457 points.

‚ÄúWhat great people in Winnipeg. I‚Äôm so lucky to¬†have started my career here and got to know the city and the people because there’s a reason it‚Äôs called Friendly Manitoba,” Selanne said.

“I was so happy to be part of place where hockey’s so big and the people are so nice. It really felt like home, and I’m thrilled to be returning to the city for the Rady JCC Sports Dinner.”

The Annual Rady JCC “Y” Sports Dinner consistently sells out year after year. Guests are treated to a gala dinner, silent, live and rainbow auctions, and once-in-a-lifetime interactions with sports celebrities.

Dollars raised from the event go back into the community, helping Winnipeg’s financially disadvantaged children attend camp and programs or participate in special needs activities and so much more.

Give the sports fan in your life a gift to remember! Individual tickets and corporate sponsorships are on sale now. Visit radyjcc.com or call 204-477-7513 for more information.

Every year, the Sports Dinner honours a member of our community who exemplifies the values of the Rady JCC – giving back at every opportunity. This year’s honouree is Bryan Klein, the current Chair of the CJA Campaign, which plays an important role in ensuring our community is strong and stable.  Klein’s philanthropic work extends to all reaches of Winnipeg, from Shaarey Zedek to Rainbow Stage, to the Health Sciences Centre Foundation and Children’s Museum, plus many more great charities.

The Rady Jewish Community Centre is a registered charity, open to all. As a community centre, Rady JCC provides scholarships, camperships and community service programs for those who need them most regardless of financial situation, ability, age or cultural background. Subsidies are made possible because of fundraising programs such as the annual Rady JCC Sports Dinner.

Ticket Inquiries:
Maegan Piltzmaker
Rady JCC Special Projects Coordinator
204-477-7513 mpiltzmaker@radyjcc.com

Media Inquiries:
Mitch Calvert
Rady JCC Marketing Manager
204-477-7536 mcalvert@radyjcc.com                                     

Ernie Nairn
Volunteer Sports Dinner Publicity Chair
204-899-1939