VANCOUVER, BC December 2008 – The Cooke Family Foundation of Hope (CFFH) has
announced today that it will support the National Hockey Players Association’s (NHLPA) efforts
in raising funds for the Luc Bourdon Memorial Fund by donating 100 percent of donations received to the CFFH up until March 15, 2009. The Luc Bourdon Memorial Fund will be officially launched in 2009. All proceeds will support scholarships and various youth-related initiatives in honour of Luc Bourdon.
“Luc was a very good teammate and friend, with such a promising future ahead of him,” said Matt Cooke, Vice President of the CFFH and Pittsburgh Penguins forward. “It is very encouraging to see the strong support from the NHLPA members and the entire hockey community as so many people have come together to uphold Luc’s legacy.” The CFFH was launched in 2007 by Pittsburgh Penguin forward (then Vancouver Canuck forward), Matt Cooke and his wife Michelle. When Matt moved from Vancouver to Pittsburgh, he made the decision to keep the Foundation active in Vancouver where he maintains a strong support network of volunteers. In addition to this commitment to the Luc Bourdon Memorial Fund, the CFFH has also helped other local charities such as Kids up Front and The Children’s Heart Network.
Most recently, they have assisted a local North Vancouver company in donating filled Christmas stockings to all the women sheltered at the North Vancouver Sage House, a transition shelter for abused women. “Although we no longer live in Vancouver, we are thankful of all the past support and are committed to give back to a community that was so good to me and my family.”