Wellness

14Wellness

We support health, fitness and awareness initiatives that assist the overall physical and mental wellness of our youth.

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OUR IGLOO

COOL ZONE

With the support of the Penguins Foundation and EMBRACE Pittsburgh, the Children Overcoming Obstacles and Limits (COOL) Zone was developed in 2015 by the Matilda Theiss Early Childhood Behavioral Health Program, part of UPMC Western Behavioral Health. Shaped like an “igloo” to provide a safe space for children, the COOL Zone is a program for kids who exhibit symptoms of or who currently have a behavioral health diagnosis. This program increases accessibility to high quality mental health services by partnering with existing schools and community centers in Allegheny County. Within these child-friendly settings, the COOL Zone serves children experiencing a range of behavioral and emotional disruptions such as: aggression, anxiety, depression, withdrawal, family disruption, emotional difficulties, traumatic responses and more.

Since 2015, the COOL Zone has assisted over 340 children in the Pittsburgh region.

COOL Zone Locations:

Edgewood Primary School 241 Maple Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15218

Wilkins Primary School 362 Churchill Rd. Pittsburgh, PA 15235

Twin Rivers Primary and Intermediate School 1600 Cornell St. McKeesport, PA 15132

Penn Hills Elementary School 1079 Jefferson Rd. Pittsburgh, PA 15235

Hosanna House 807 Wallace Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15221

UPMC Children’s Pine Center 11279 Perry Hwy. Wexford, PA 15090

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COMBATING CONCUSSIONS

HEADS UP

The Penguins Foundation and UPMC Sports Medicine teamed up in 2011 to create HEADS UP Pittsburgh to combat an epidemic of concussions in young athletes. The program aims each year to provide free, baseline testing to youth in our region, while sharing the latest training tools to aid in concussion reduction.

Through HEADS UP, over 26,000 athletes have been baseline tested from 34 sports!

Expansion of HEADS UP Pittsburgh:

2011

Introduction of HEADS UP Pittsburgh to Hockey Athletes (Ages 10-14)

2012

Expansion of HEADS UP Pittsburgh to Athletes in All Sports

2013

Free Neck-Strengthening Kits to First 4,000 Participants

2014

Free Flexibility Kits to First 2,000 Participants

2015

Introduction of Pediatric-Version (Ages 7-9) of HEADS UP Pittsburgh

2016

Free Balance Discs to First 3,000 Participants

2017

Free Pilates Balls to First 3,000 Participants

2018

Free Neck-Strengthening Kits to First 1,000 Participants

2019

Free Wind Resistance Strength Builders to First 2,500 Participants

2020 Free Neck-Strengthening Kits to First 2,000 Participants

2021

Free Neck-Strengthening Kits to First 2,000 Participants

MENTAL HEALTH IS HEALTH

BREAK THE ICE

The NHL’s Hockey Talks initiative, inspired by former Vancouver Canucks player Rick Rypien, is meant to create an environment that allows people to feel comfortable when talking about mental health. The initiative encourages teams to share resources, stories and break the stigma about mental health issues. In 2019.20, the Pittsburgh Penguins joined this fight as a champion of mental health within our team and our community.

For the second straight season, the Penguins organization proudly embraced the NHL’s Hockey Talks campaign by hosting Break the Ice Night!

In partnership with EMBRACE Pittsburgh, the Penguins Foundation created a program to continue the efforts of Hockey Talks known as Break the Ice. With the Break the Ice initiative, a designated Penguins game focuses on mental health awareness efforts each season. In 2020.21, on January 28, fans were encouraged to share their stories and supportive messages on social media by using #BreakTheIce. In addition, complimentary #BreakTheIce wristbands, called EMBRACE-lets, could be requested online, which encouraged fans to talk about mental wellness anytime they’re talking about Penguins hockey. A free, virtual panel was also offered to college students to connect with former Penguins player Colby Armstrong and Tyler Smith from the Humboldt Broncos regarding mental wellness. Finally, as part of the Break the Ice game, Penguins players wore Hockey Talks t-shirts and helmet decals to show support for mental health awareness.

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PENS ON WHEELS

CARE MOBILE

In October 2019, the Penguins Foundation unveiled a new Care Mobile in partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities and UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. The 40-foot vehicle features distraction therapy and provides 17 different services and tests -- including wellness visits, immunizations, physicals, sick visits and more -- to children in low income areas in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

The distraction therapy program utilized within the Care Mobile alleviates the stress children experience when going to the doctor’s office. When children enter the exam rooms, they are transported into a Penguins-themed igloo or to an under the sea adventure. The children then focus on what is going on around them rather than the reason they are there. Games have even been designed for these rooms during the medical visit, thus making it a better experience for both the parents and the children.

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UPMC Children’s is committed to providing world-class care… But, there are children who can’t make it to us. So, what the Care Mobile allows us to do – is make it to them.”

Marc Sevco President UPMC Children’s Hospitals of Pittsburgh

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BATTLING AN EPIDEMIC

H.O.P.E.

The Penguins Foundation and EVERFI partnered to support the FBI Pittsburgh Division and Citizens Academy on the Heroin Outreach Prevention and Education (H.O.P.E.) initiative in 2020.21 for the sixth consecutive year. H.O.P.E. teaches students about the dangers of opioid abuse and provides an understanding of how abuse can be prevented. To put this knowledge into action, students were challenged to create a PSA for entry into a video contest with the Penguins Foundation providing Pittsburgh Penguins Packs, consisting of Pens memorabilia and more, to winning students. In total, 16 videos from 9 school districts across 8 different counties in Western PA entered the H.O.P.E Contest.

H.O.P.E. Winners:

• 1st: South Fayette High School

• 2nd: Indiana County Tech Center

• 3rd: Forest Hills Junior-Senior High School

PRESCRIPTION DRUG SAFETY

In an effort to help address adolescent drug abuse and misuse in Pennsylvania, the Penguins Foundation, Rite Aid Foundation, EVERFI and Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro teamed up to bring the Prescription Drug Safety program, an innovative digital course about prescription drug abuse prevention, to over 18,000 students within 188 high schools in Western Pennsylvania at no cost. The series of six interactive modules educates students on opioids, depressants and stimulants and teaches the appropriate use for each drug, as well as intervention skills.

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