One of the owners of the Orlando Solar Bears, Joe Haleski and his wife Kate, through their Haleski Foundation, recently made a commitment of $250,000 over the next five years to the Florida Hospital for Children to help fund advancements in the unit for pediatric care.
The first step in this project was the Solar Bears Playroom, which is half an ice rink and half a locker room.
The Haleski Foundation was established by the couple to develop plans for donating on a long-term basis that would be more caring in nature. Various medical practitioners are in the Haleski— Joe’s mother was a pediatric nurse and his aunt was a nurse for 30 years at Florida Hospital, while Kate was a medical surgical nurse.
The Solar Bears are owned and operated by Joe and his college friend and partner, Jason Siegel, who is CEO and President of the team. The players of the team visit children throughout the hockey season and come to Florida Hospital several times a year.
Joe Haleski commented that the playroom will be a great opportunity for patients of the hospital and their families to escape from their medical issues and have some fun together for a while. The Haleski Foundation may be turning to flyer printing to inform the public of its projects and their benefits for the community.
