The Piqua Community Foundation is assisting in the establishment of The Little Kinger Fund, for the purpose of providing opportunities for girls to participate in athletics with special consideration given to the game of ice hockey. Founder, Piqua’s own Kristin King, won a bronze medal as a member of the US Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey team in the 2006 Winter Games in Torino, Italy, scoring a goal in the semi-final game. The fund bears Kristin’s hockey nickname “Little Kinger”.

Kristin knows the positive impact athletics have had upon her life, in spite of the challenges she faced finding genuine opportunities to practice and to participate in organized competition against other females. Even today, girls in Ohio and the Midwest have limited opportunities to learn the game and to play against other girls. A multiple-sport athlete in her high school and college years, Kristin’s heart’s desire is to give something back to athletics - and give back to her community - by helping to provide opportunities for others.

Proceeds from the fund will be dispersed in two ways: scholarships will be awarded to girls with outstanding scholarship who are participating in intercollegiate athletics at a 4-year institution, and grants will be made to schools and other organizations for girls’ athletic teams to help develop skills and knowledge of their sport. Special consideration will be made to girls and organizations whose primary interest is ice hockey.

The initial fund-raising activity will be a banquet on Saturday, September 23, 2006 at Edison Community College beginning at 6:30 P.M. The cost of tickets is $50 per plate. A special VIP reception and preferred seating for $100 per plate will begin at 5:30 p.m. with cash bar and hors d’oeuvres. Guests who purchase VIP tickets will be hosted by Kristin along with Chanda Gunn and other Olympians.

For more information, contact Karen Wendeln at the Piqua Community Foundation office using the link below. Checks should be made to the Piqua Community Foundation and designated to the Little Kinger Fund, and mailed to P.O. Box 226, Piqua Ohio 45356.

"Providing your opportunity to enrich our community"