Weekes charitable cause...

[Shell]

I can't say enough about the boys and girls club.. Before coming here to be spoiled by myself and grandmom, my niece and nephews were living on the streets of San Fran with their mom.. Boys and Girls Club kept them alive I think.

Boys & Girls Clubs To Hold Breakfast Of Champions
dBusiness News
08-18-2003

The Boys & Girls Clubs will be hosting their first ever signature event, the Breakfast of Champions, Tuesday, September 16, 2003 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the RBC Center. Kevin Weekes, goalie for the Carolina Hurricanes and Boys & Girls Club alum, will be this year’s keynote speaker.

The event will recognize Past Presidents of the Boys & Girls Clubs since 1967 and will also induct four special volunteers into the Club’s Hall of Fame: Blanche R. Bacon, W. Trent Ragland, Jr., E.E. “Jack” Carter* and Erick May, 1992 National Youth of the Year.
Tables and individual tickets are on sale now and may be purchased by calling (919) 834-6282 or visiting www.wakebgc.org. Event proceeds will benefit the Wake County Boys & Girls Clubs. Seating is limited.

Center Ice sponsors include Express Lube, John Deere and Wachovia Securities. Progress Energy is a Blue Line sponsor and At the Glass sponsors include CIS Inc.,
First Citizens Bank, HRH of Raleigh, Kilpatrick Stockton, News & Observer, RBC Centura and Title Company of NC.

The Boys & Girls Clubs mission is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. The Boys & Girls Clubs is a non-profit privately funded 501C(3) organization and depends on private donations and volunteers to accomplish its mission. The Boys & Girls Clubs operates five Clubs in Wake County and a summer day camp. To make a donation or to volunteer contact the Wake County office at 919/834-6282 or visit our website at www.wakebcg.org.

[nccanes]

That's an impressive list of sponsors and great that Weekes stays involved. Good on him! :D

[Jeff O Rocks]

It is always good to see our Canes or any local athletes get involved and give back!! Way to go Kev! :spin:

and Shell I am glad your nephews and your niece have it so much better now!! ;)

[Shell]

Just another feel good story :)

Weekes visits Rocky Mount, Boys and Girls Club
by Andrew B. Carter, Rocky Mount Telegram

Local Boys and Girls Clubs executive director Theresa Shaw said the little girl was nervous before singing the national anthem Thursday night, that the girl didn't know if she could get through the words while a packed banquet hall watched.

But 12-year-old Kristen Swinnely erased her own doubts and simply made music. Perched in her wheelchair and shrugging off cerebral palsy, Swinnely delivered a powerful rendition of The Star Spangled Banner, a moving performance that brought all in attendance – including Carolina Hurricane goalkeeper Kevin Weekes – to an emotional, prolonged applause at the anthem's conclusion.

Swinnely's performance opened the 15th annual Steak-n-Burger, a Boys and Girls Clubs of Nash and Edgecombe Counties fund-raiser in which Weekes stepped off the rink and behind the podium as a featured motivational speaker, a gig the goalie refused to pass up, he said.

Weekes hopped on a jet and flew from his home in Toronto specifically to speak at the dinner, which also acted as a silent auction and awards ceremony.

"I came in specifically for this because it's something I believe in," Weekes said. "It was pretty much a no-brainer. It's something that I endorse in the fullest."

As a boy growing up in Toronto, Weekes became a member of the Boys and Girls Club after his cousin volunteered with the organization one summer. Amid a flurry of activities that kept him busy year-round, including his love, hockey, Weekes became entrenched in the Boys and Girls Club. When the organization contacted the Hurricanes' goalie to speak at the function, Weekes obliged with a smile.

"This is obviously a good organization and it stands for a lot of good things," Weekes said. "[For me] it was a good opportunity instead of hanging out or doing the wrong thing, which I wasn't allowed to because of my parents anyway ... It was great, I spent a lot of good time there, made a lot of good friends and it was certainly a good part of my childhood."

Upon entering the Gateway Convention Center, Weekes climbed out of a white stretch limousine, wearing a dark brown suit and outfit-completing sunglasses. As he approached the building, a gaggle of wide-eyed children gathered near the entrance, then later surrounded the nine-year NHL veteran. Some of the children could not have named Weekes' number or position, some might not have heard of the Carolina Hurricanes, but it didn't matter as the swarm grew around the hand-shaking, smiling goalie.

One young fan, a small boy, pulled out a Hurricanes sweater with several signatures scribbled on the center-chest logo.

"I don't know if you signed it or not," the boy said.

Weekes scanned the piece of memorabilia, didn't notice his signature, and quickly rectified the problem.

"Got a Sharpie?" Weekes asked.

Weekes relayed an inspirational message in his speech, advising the children of the Boys and Girls Club to invest in themselves and set goals. It worked for the Hurricanes' No. 80, but one of his goals – playing hockey next season – might be delayed due to a potential NHL work stoppage.

The league's players and owners are at an impasse regarding the NHL's next labor agreement with no end in sight, and lockout speculation is spreading like the flu in hockey season.

But Weekes isn't sweating it, at least not now.

"I don't really invest that much energy into it," he said. "I'm very informed, but beyond that, I don't invest that much energy in thinking about it or talking about it. Oddly enough, I find that the media talks about it more than enough. For me as a player, my main thing is to stay informed. I continue doing what I always do, that's status quo for me as far as my preparations are concerned."

Instead of worrying over a the league's uncertain future, Weekes said he'd use the offseason to train and spend time with friends and family.

Good thing, because if the NHL season ever begins, Weekes will be one friend short in Raleigh.

The Hurricanes on Wednesday traded fellow goalkeeper Arturs Irbe to the Columbus Blue Jackets for a conditional pick in the 2005 NHL draft. Irbe and Weekes split time in between the posts during the Canes' improbable run to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2002, and Weekes said the pair was close.

"Before I got traded [to the Hurricanes] and he was a veteran and I was 23 or 24, playing against Carolina he would always nod or acknowledge me and say, 'Keep your head up,'" Weekes said. "That's something that I always remembered. To come here and he never showed any ill will toward me, I really respect him. We got along as well as we did because we're really simple."

Weekes, a restricted free agent who has the same agent as Irbe, might not be with Carolina next season, either. The team is considering trading Weekes, that is if it signs the restricted free agent before the July 1 deadline.

Andrew B. Carter can be reached at 407-9952 or acarter@coxnews.com

[Shell]

Just another feel good story :)

Weekes visits Rocky Mount, Boys and Girls Club
by Andrew B. Carter, Rocky Mount Telegram

Local Boys and Girls Clubs executive director Theresa Shaw said the little girl was nervous before singing the national anthem Thursday night, that the girl didn't know if she could get through the words while a packed banquet hall watched.

But 12-year-old Kristen Swinnely erased her own doubts and simply made music. Perched in her wheelchair and shrugging off cerebral palsy, Swinnely delivered a powerful rendition of The Star Spangled Banner, a moving performance that brought all in attendance – including Carolina Hurricane goalkeeper Kevin Weekes – to an emotional, prolonged applause at the anthem's conclusion.

Swinnely's performance opened the 15th annual Steak-n-Burger, a Boys and Girls Clubs of Nash and Edgecombe Counties fund-raiser in which Weekes stepped off the rink and behind the podium as a featured motivational speaker, a gig the goalie refused to pass up, he said.

Weekes hopped on a jet and flew from his home in Toronto specifically to speak at the dinner, which also acted as a silent auction and awards ceremony.

"I came in specifically for this because it's something I believe in," Weekes said. "It was pretty much a no-brainer. It's something that I endorse in the fullest."

As a boy growing up in Toronto, Weekes became a member of the Boys and Girls Club after his cousin volunteered with the organization one summer. Amid a flurry of activities that kept him busy year-round, including his love, hockey, Weekes became entrenched in the Boys and Girls Club. When the organization contacted the Hurricanes' goalie to speak at the function, Weekes obliged with a smile.

"This is obviously a good organization and it stands for a lot of good things," Weekes said. "[For me] it was a good opportunity instead of hanging out or doing the wrong thing, which I wasn't allowed to because of my parents anyway ... It was great, I spent a lot of good time there, made a lot of good friends and it was certainly a good part of my childhood."

Upon entering the Gateway Convention Center, Weekes climbed out of a white stretch limousine, wearing a dark brown suit and outfit-completing sunglasses. As he approached the building, a gaggle of wide-eyed children gathered near the entrance, then later surrounded the nine-year NHL veteran. Some of the children could not have named Weekes' number or position, some might not have heard of the Carolina Hurricanes, but it didn't matter as the swarm grew around the hand-shaking, smiling goalie.

One young fan, a small boy, pulled out a Hurricanes sweater with several signatures scribbled on the center-chest logo.

"I don't know if you signed it or not," the boy said.

Weekes scanned the piece of memorabilia, didn't notice his signature, and quickly rectified the problem.

"Got a Sharpie?" Weekes asked.

Weekes relayed an inspirational message in his speech, advising the children of the Boys and Girls Club to invest in themselves and set goals. It worked for the Hurricanes' No. 80, but one of his goals – playing hockey next season – might be delayed due to a potential NHL work stoppage.

The league's players and owners are at an impasse regarding the NHL's next labor agreement with no end in sight, and lockout speculation is spreading like the flu in hockey season.

But Weekes isn't sweating it, at least not now.

"I don't really invest that much energy into it," he said. "I'm very informed, but beyond that, I don't invest that much energy in thinking about it or talking about it. Oddly enough, I find that the media talks about it more than enough. For me as a player, my main thing is to stay informed. I continue doing what I always do, that's status quo for me as far as my preparations are concerned."

Instead of worrying over a the league's uncertain future, Weekes said he'd use the offseason to train and spend time with friends and family.

Good thing, because if the NHL season ever begins, Weekes will be one friend short in Raleigh.

The Hurricanes on Wednesday traded fellow goalkeeper Arturs Irbe to the Columbus Blue Jackets for a conditional pick in the 2005 NHL draft. Irbe and Weekes split time in between the posts during the Canes' improbable run to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2002, and Weekes said the pair was close.

"Before I got traded [to the Hurricanes] and he was a veteran and I was 23 or 24, playing against Carolina he would always nod or acknowledge me and say, 'Keep your head up,'" Weekes said. "That's something that I always remembered. To come here and he never showed any ill will toward me, I really respect him. We got along as well as we did because we're really simple."

Weekes, a restricted free agent who has the same agent as Irbe, might not be with Carolina next season, either. The team is considering trading Weekes, that is if it signs the restricted free agent before the July 1 deadline.

Andrew B. Carter can be reached at 407-9952 or acarter@coxnews.com

[Shell]

Just another feel good story :)

Weekes visits Rocky Mount, Boys and Girls Club
by Andrew B. Carter, Rocky Mount Telegram

Local Boys and Girls Clubs executive director Theresa Shaw said the little girl was nervous before singing the national anthem Thursday night, that the girl didn't know if she could get through the words while a packed banquet hall watched.

But 12-year-old Kristen Swinnely erased her own doubts and simply made music. Perched in her wheelchair and shrugging off cerebral palsy, Swinnely delivered a powerful rendition of The Star Spangled Banner, a moving performance that brought all in attendance – including Carolina Hurricane goalkeeper Kevin Weekes – to an emotional, prolonged applause at the anthem's conclusion.

Swinnely's performance opened the 15th annual Steak-n-Burger, a Boys and Girls Clubs of Nash and Edgecombe Counties fund-raiser in which Weekes stepped off the rink and behind the podium as a featured motivational speaker, a gig the goalie refused to pass up, he said.

Weekes hopped on a jet and flew from his home in Toronto specifically to speak at the dinner, which also acted as a silent auction and awards ceremony.

"I came in specifically for this because it's something I believe in," Weekes said. "It was pretty much a no-brainer. It's something that I endorse in the fullest."

As a boy growing up in Toronto, Weekes became a member of the Boys and Girls Club after his cousin volunteered with the organization one summer. Amid a flurry of activities that kept him busy year-round, including his love, hockey, Weekes became entrenched in the Boys and Girls Club. When the organization contacted the Hurricanes' goalie to speak at the function, Weekes obliged with a smile.

"This is obviously a good organization and it stands for a lot of good things," Weekes said. "[For me] it was a good opportunity instead of hanging out or doing the wrong thing, which I wasn't allowed to because of my parents anyway ... It was great, I spent a lot of good time there, made a lot of good friends and it was certainly a good part of my childhood."

Upon entering the Gateway Convention Center, Weekes climbed out of a white stretch limousine, wearing a dark brown suit and outfit-completing sunglasses. As he approached the building, a gaggle of wide-eyed children gathered near the entrance, then later surrounded the nine-year NHL veteran. Some of the children could not have named Weekes' number or position, some might not have heard of the Carolina Hurricanes, but it didn't matter as the swarm grew around the hand-shaking, smiling goalie.

One young fan, a small boy, pulled out a Hurricanes sweater with several signatures scribbled on the center-chest logo.

"I don't know if you signed it or not," the boy said.

Weekes scanned the piece of memorabilia, didn't notice his signature, and quickly rectified the problem.

"Got a Sharpie?" Weekes asked.

Weekes relayed an inspirational message in his speech, advising the children of the Boys and Girls Club to invest in themselves and set goals. It worked for the Hurricanes' No. 80, but one of his goals – playing hockey next season – might be delayed due to a potential NHL work stoppage.

The league's players and owners are at an impasse regarding the NHL's next labor agreement with no end in sight, and lockout speculation is spreading like the flu in hockey season.

But Weekes isn't sweating it, at least not now.

"I don't really invest that much energy into it," he said. "I'm very informed, but beyond that, I don't invest that much energy in thinking about it or talking about it. Oddly enough, I find that the media talks about it more than enough. For me as a player, my main thing is to stay informed. I continue doing what I always do, that's status quo for me as far as my preparations are concerned."

Instead of worrying over a the league's uncertain future, Weekes said he'd use the offseason to train and spend time with friends and family.

Good thing, because if the NHL season ever begins, Weekes will be one friend short in Raleigh.

The Hurricanes on Wednesday traded fellow goalkeeper Arturs Irbe to the Columbus Blue Jackets for a conditional pick in the 2005 NHL draft. Irbe and Weekes split time in between the posts during the Canes' improbable run to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2002, and Weekes said the pair was close.

"Before I got traded [to the Hurricanes] and he was a veteran and I was 23 or 24, playing against Carolina he would always nod or acknowledge me and say, 'Keep your head up,'" Weekes said. "That's something that I always remembered. To come here and he never showed any ill will toward me, I really respect him. We got along as well as we did because we're really simple."

Weekes, a restricted free agent who has the same agent as Irbe, might not be with Carolina next season, either. The team is considering trading Weekes, that is if it signs the restricted free agent before the July 1 deadline.

Andrew B. Carter can be reached at 407-9952 or acarter@coxnews.com

[nccanes]

Awesome article Shell. Really great. :D

[nccanes]

Awesome article Shell. Really great. :D

[nccanes]

Awesome article Shell. Really great. :D

[Canesluver]

[referring to Irbe]"We got along as well as we did because we're really simple."
DOH! http://smilies.jeeptalk.org/ups/DeNiro/idiot.gif

sorry.... couldn't help myself! :p

That's a great group for him to be associated with.

[Canesluver]

[referring to Irbe]"We got along as well as we did because we're really simple."
DOH! http://smilies.jeeptalk.org/ups/DeNiro/idiot.gif

sorry.... couldn't help myself! :p

That's a great group for him to be associated with.

[Canesluver]

[referring to Irbe]"We got along as well as we did because we're really simple."
DOH! http://smilies.jeeptalk.org/ups/DeNiro/idiot.gif

sorry.... couldn't help myself! :p

That's a great group for him to be associated with.

[Stormbringer]

Awesome article Shell. Really great. :D

Echoed. :spin:

[Stormbringer]

Awesome article Shell. Really great. :D

Echoed. :spin:

[Stormbringer]

Awesome article Shell. Really great. :D

Echoed. :spin: