NHL® and NHLPA Partner with EverFi to Launch Future Goals™ Digital Education Program

NEW YORK, Sept. 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) and the National Hockey League (NHL^®) today announced the launch of the NHL & NHLPA Future Goals™ Program, a major North American initiative that will bring interactive education opportunities to each of the 30 NHL team markets in the United States and Canada as well as hundreds of additional communities. The digital learning initiative is an unprecedented partnership between a professional sports league and a players' association, and represents one of the largest programs supported through public-private partnership to be deployed in the United States or Canada. The program is being powered by Washington, D.C.-based EverFi, the critical skills education leader that has certified more than 7 million learners.

Students today have access to technology resources at an increasingly younger age and the Future Goals™ program will help them learn to leverage that technology in a safe and responsible way. Using the fast-paced, exciting game of hockey as a learning vehicle, students will be able to understand the real-world application of key science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) topics. The program also introduces students to significant future career opportunities that exist in STEM-related fields.

"We are extraordinarily excited about the partnership on Future Goals," said NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. "Our clubs and our players coming together to create an educational program that emphasizes the science, technology, engineering, and math curriculum, and uses the game of hockey as a platform to accomplish good social engagement – there could be no better cause for us to work on together."

"The players are proud to be part of the Future Goals educational program," said Mathieu Schneider, NHLPA Special Assistant to the Executive Director. "This program is designed to use technology and real life hockey examples as a way to teach kids the STEM curriculum. Our hope is that this program will give teachers a helping hand in the classroom by bringing these topics to life."‎

In conjunction with the start of the 2014-15 NHL season, elementary school students across North America will have free access to the Future Goals™ curriculum, which will be implemented with the direct support of teachers.

"The NHL and NHLPA are together making a historic investment in STEM-based education and we're excited to bring the strength of our North American network to power this initiative," said EverFi Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer Jon Chapman. "This program is going to bring much-needed digital learning tools to thousands of schools and help our teachers prepare today's students to be college-ready, career-ready and life-ready."

To announce the initiative, NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly, NHLPA representatives Mathieu Schneider and Alex Dagg, and a host of marquee NHL players will host a launch event at Newark's Science Park High School on Tuesday, Sept. 9. NHL players in attendance will include Toronto Maple Leafs^® goalie Jonathan Bernier, Florida Panthers^® forward Nick Bjugstad, Anaheim Ducks^® defenseman Cam Fowler, Buffalo Sabres^® forward Brian Gionta, New Jersey Devils^® defenseman Andy Greene, Detroit Red Wings^® defenseman Niklas Kronwall, Philadelphia Flyers^® forward Wayne Simmonds, Montreal Canadiens^® defenseman P.K. Subban and New York Islanders^® forward John Tavares. Also joining will be U.S. Olympians Julie Chu and Meghan Duggan. More than 800 students and district officials are expected to attend the event.

More information on Future Goals™ can be found at futuregoals.nhl.com.

Media Note: Photos from the Sept. 9 press event will be available at GettyImages.com.

NHLPA, National Hockey League Players' Association and the NHLPA logo are trademarks of the NHLPA. © NHLPA.

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About the NHL

The National Hockey League (NHL®), founded in 1917, consists of 30 Member Clubs, each reflecting the League's international makeup with players from more than 20 countries represented on team rosters, vying for the most cherished and historic trophy in professional sports – the Stanley Cup®. Every year the NHL entertains more than 250 million fans in-arena and through its partners on national television and radio; more than 10 million fans on its social platforms; and more than 300 million fans online at NHL.com. In Canada, the 2014-15 season marks the beginning of a landmark 12-year broadcast and multimedia agreement with Rogers Communications, which includes national rights to NHL games on all platforms in all languages. In the U.S., the NHL is in the fourth season of its 10-year agreement with NBC and NBCSN, the 10^th consecutive season both networks have served as national television partners. The NHL is committed to giving back to the community with programs including: Hockey is for Everyone™, which supports nonprofit youth hockey organizations across North America; Hockey Fights Cancer™, raising money for local and national cancer organizations; NHL Green™, which is committed to pursuing sustainable business practices; and a partnership with the You Can Play Project, which is committed to supporting the LGBT community and fighting homophobia in sports. The NHL received three 2014 Sports Business Awards: "Sports League of the Year," "Sports Executive of the Year" recognizing Commissioner Gary Bettman, and "Sports Event of the Year" for the 2014 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic®. For more information, visit NHL.com.

About the NHLPA

The National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA), established in 1967, is a labour organization whose members are the players in the National Hockey League (NHL). The NHLPA works on behalf of the players in varied disciplines such as labour relations, product licensing, marketing, international hockey and community relations, all in furtherance of its efforts to promote its members and the game of hockey. In 1999, the NHLPA launched the Goals & Dreams fund as a way for the players to give something back to the game they love. Over the past 14 years, more than 60,000 deserving children in 30 countries have benefited from the players' donations of hockey equipment. NHLPA Goals & Dreams has donated more than $21-million to grassroots hockey programs, making it the largest program of its kind. For more information on the NHLPA, please visit www.nhlpa.com. 

About EverFi, Inc.

EverFi, Inc. is the education technology innovator that empowers learners with the skills that prepare them to be successful in life. With backing from some of technology's most innovative leaders including Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos, Google Chairman Eric Schmidt, and Twitter founder Evan Williams, EverFi has built the most comprehensive critical skills platform focused on Financial Education, Digital Citizenship, Cyberbullying, STEM Readiness, Entrepreneurship, Alcohol Abuse and Sexual Assault Awareness. The EverFi Education Network is powered by over 1,000 partner organizations across all 50 states and Canada and has certified over 7 million students. Learn more at www.everfi.com.

For more information, contact:

Brian Cooley (EverFi)    
703-801-4572     
[email protected]

Nirva Milord (NHL)        
212-789-2123
[email protected]               

Jonathan Weatherdon (NHLPA)
416-313-2316
[email protected]          

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140909/144288         

SOURCE EverFi, Inc.