Background & Mission Statement
In 1994, the San Jose Sharks established the official charity arm of the team the Sharks Foundation, a public 501(c)(3) non-profit.
The Sharks Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the lives of underserved youth and families in the community with an emphasis in the areas of education, health and safety, and character development. The Foundation supplies emergency aid when appropriate, executes unique and relevant programming, supports the advancement of youth hockey, and provides financial support and resources to organizations that enrich the lives of those in need.
Since its inception, the Sharks Foundation has given more than $16.6 million back to Bay Area organizations through its annual Community Assist Grant program and season-long Giving Campaign.
Community Assist Grants
The Sharks Foundation accepts applications for program funding and project grants that align with our focal areas of giving. The Foundation then dedicates a month of the Sharks regular season to honor and celebrate that focal area through our annual Giving Campaign. Organizations should support youth and families, with special emphasis on at-risk and underserved populations.
Programs:
Reading is Cool: A free and unique literacy program focused on K-5 classrooms, designed for individual classrooms. This program runs from October through April, parallel to the Sharks regular season.
Future Goals Powered by Everfi: With many school districts and parents utilizing remote learning plans, the Sharks are offering teachers and parents free, remote access to our Future Goals Program à Future Goals: Hockey Scholar is an interactive hockey-themed STEM curriculum for middle and elementary school-aged students.
Bay Area All-Star Scholarship Team: Bay Area professional sports franchises have teamed up to form the Bay Area All-Star Scholarship Team (BAASST). Each sports team does its part in contributing to the BAASST program by identifying one outstanding student and awarding each of them a scholarship for $5,000.
Sharks & Parks: A street hockey program that provides schools, community centers and youth organizations with street hockey equipment and coaching tools and instruction to select centers in order to generate an interest in hockey and make it more accessible to local youth.
San Jose Hockey Street Team: The San Jose Hockey Street Team can bring fun to your event. Opportunities could include a Slap Shot Inflatable, prize table and/or an interactive photo booth. These elements are a perfect addition to any festival, fair, or community function.
Little Sharks – “Learn to Play:” designed for children ages 4-8 who have no prior hockey experience and are interested in picking up the sport of ice hockey. Through fun, age-appropriate lessons, the Sharks hope to create a positive first-time hockey experience for our participants.
Tealtop Hockey Courts: Since 1999, the Sharks Foundation has been transforming outdoor blacktops at local schools, after school sites and non-profits into custom Tealtop street hockey courts, giving youth the opportunity to learn the game of hockey in a safe environment while being physically active. In addition to the court, the organization receives street hockey equipment to ensure that the children have everything they need to play hockey all year round.
Goals for Kids: Through the Goals for Kids program, each on-ice achievement will support underserved youth and families in the Bay Area. For each San Jose Sharks goal scored during the season, $1,000 will be given to local organizations dedicated to enhancing the lives of those in need. Thanks to the program’s partners, each Sharks goal achieved out on the ice will help the program’s beneficiaries achieve their goals in the community!
50/50 Raffle: Proceeds from a 50/50 Raffle can range anywhere from $3,000 to $30,000 +. If chosen as a 50/50 Raffle beneficiary, the raffle will take place at a Sharks home game during the month for which focus area the application is for.
Fundraisers:
Tank Tailgate: The Sharks Foundation Hosts Tank Tailgate as a separate ticketed event during the San Jose Sharks Fan Fest. With a Tank Tailgate Ticket, guests 21 years of age or older have access to the beer garden space which features a rotation of Sharks Celebrity guest bartenders, music, games, a photo booth, raffles and food trucks. Tank Tailgate tickets also grant access inside SAP Center where other Fan Fest activities take place! Net proceeds from Tank Tailgate benefit the Sharks Foundation and its mission to aid underserved youth and families in the community.
Sampling with the Sharks: The Sampling with the Sharks wine tasting fundraiser is the Sharks Foundation’s signature and most successful fundraising event of the season! Attendees of this semiformal occasion are able to enjoy some of the finest wines from throughout Northern California while mingling with Sharks players, coaches, and broadcasters. Net proceeds from Sampling with the Sharks benefit the Sharks Foundation and its mission to aid underserved youth and families in the community.
Mystery Pucks: Presented by SAP, pucks are sold virtually or on the Concourse at designated home games throughout the season. Every puck is signed by a Sharks player and then wrapped so that the player’s identity remains a mystery. Net Proceeds from Mystery Pucks sales benefits the Sharks Foundation and its mission to aid underserved youth and families in the community
Learn more about the Sharks programs and fundraisers here.
