(Former Sens defenceman and co-captain, Chris Phillips, named Executive Director of the newly formed Senators Community Foundation on August 12, 2020. Photo: Ottawa Senators)
This morning, the Senators Community Foundation picked their new captain. Former Sens player, Chris Phillips has been named to head-up the new charitable organization. Working in partnership with CHEO, the Boys & Girls Club of Ottawa and Roger’s House, the Senators Community Foundation will be the new charitable arm of the Senator’s hockey team. The announcement made by Eugene Melnyk was made at the Brewer Park COVID testing site.
Chris Phillips has been a long-time community ambassador and now has an official title and role. Chris, along with his wife, Erin, have become fixtures and pillars in the local community. They have spent countless hours lending their voices and support by attending events for more than 20 charities and charitable causes in the community including Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Support Programs, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Movember Canada, 24h Tremblant and Hockey Fights Cancer. Phillips also worked hard to help raise awareness and funds for his hometown following the devastating fires in Fort McMurray, Alta., in 2016.
In a press release, Mr. Melnyk said, “We are extremely proud to have Chris Phillips lead our Foundation as he personifies what a community leader is all about”. “From being our first overall pick in 1996, to his 17 remarkable seasons that led to his jersey retirement earlier this year, he’s a natural fit for this role. His energy, enthusiasm and his community involvement will take our Foundation to a whole new level.”
“I want to thank the Senators organization for extending to me this tremendous opportunity to help serve the community my family calls home,” said Mr. Phillips. “I’ve worked with many great community leaders and organizations over the years, and I look forward to continuing those relationships and developing new programs that will help those who are truly in need.”
“They’ve done amazing work and we’ve done a lot of work with them over the years,” Phillips said in relation to the charitable work done by the Senators. “This is where we are today and I’m excited about moving forward, working closely with the team, with alumni to get out there and do some good work.
“We’re just kind of starting from scratch. It’s a great opportunity at how the old foundation operated for so long and maybe things that could be improved upon. It allows that reset. I’m just excited about getting a new board together, looking at where our focus is going to be, if there’s going to be one. We talked about, given the times we live in right now, it goes well beyond youth.
“There’s a lot of people struggling through this pandemic in a wide variety of areas. We’re just going to get started as quick as we can and raise as much money as we can and help as many people as we can.”
The announcement was made at Brewer Park as part of an initiative to give each child examined at the testing centre a Chris Phillips bobblehead.
