The Ducks are taking the time provided by the cancelled opening of the NHL season to rebuild a local school playground, and build some good will. Ducks staff, corporate sponsors, season-ticket holders and former players are scheduled to team today for a beautification project at Mattie Lou Maxwell Elementary School in Anaheim. The work is slated to include the installation of a street hockey rink on the school playground, and planting trees and raised gardens. New campus murals, in the Ducks’ colors, are being added as well, featuring the school’s motto: “Respectful, Responsible, Safe & Kind.” The program is part of the Ducks’ Power PLAY community initiative, which promotes youth hockey and recreation in schools. The estimated $90,000 cost of the project is being funded by the franchise, which is owned by Henry and Susan Samueli. It will be unveiled to students tomorrow when they return to school after having today off for the Veterans Day holiday. “Our owners are very philanthropic, and school funding is so reduced right now,” said Ducks VP & CMO Aaron Teats. “During the work stoppage, we’re able to dedicate resources and time to a project that we normally wouldn’t be able to during the hectic pace of the NHL schedule. We wanted to come up with a project to engage everyone -- not just our staff, but our fans and corporate partners.” Among the team sponsors involved in the playground initiative are Pepsi and Pinnacle Landscaping, which also works on the grounds of the team’s Honda Center arena. Civic partners include Enrich L.A. and Anaheim Beautiful. Mattie Lou Maxwell Elementary is a participant in the Ducks’ S.C.O.R.E. (Scholastic Curriculum of Recreation and Education) program, which aims to enrich the education of students. The initiative has provided 18,000 sets of school supplies and includes a street hockey physical education program with Ducks branding. “The beautification project and new street hockey rink adds a new level of pride to our campus,” said school Principal Marcy Chant. “This is a wonderful gift for our community.”
