Islanders Business Club

Business Development Program

JOIN GUERIN AND COMRIE AS THE ISLANDERS INSPIRE

Here's how you can assist the newest Islanders in hosting children in need at Islanders games
by Neal Bandlow

Bill Guerin and Mike Comrie arrived for their introductory press conference in July with a charitable announcement they wanted to make on their own. Coincidentally, the Islanders had a brand-new community initiative that was a perfect fit for the new Islanders' vision.

Guerin and Comrie - meet RexCorp Islanders Inspire, designed for companies on Long Island to take an active role in affording positive life experiences to thousands of Long Island children.
"Mike Comrie and I talked a few times about making an immediate impact on the Long Island community," Guerin said. "We decided we would each contribute money towards bringing children in need to Islanders games. When we showed up for the press conference and told the Islanders what we wanted to do, that's when we learned about RexCorp Islanders Inspire. Mike and I looked at each other and we were like, "Perfect. That's it.'"

Since then, several Islanders have joined the Islanders Inspire initiative, including Rick DiPietro, Jon Sim and Ruslan Fedotenko.

RexCorp Islanders Inspire is an initiative developed by the Islanders following suggestions from long-time corporate sponsors and season ticketholders. The franchise and its extended family of sponsors and fans realized that so many continue to reflect on the experiences we had as children attending Islanders games or more recently as parents attending with our children. These game experiences have created a lifetime of memories for our families. RexCorp Islanders Inspire allows the Long Island business community the opportunity to create those same memories for thousands of children on Long Island that might not otherwise get the chance.

Through the contributions of Guerin and Comrie, more than 50 Long Island children in need will be their guests at Islanders home games this season. Guerin and Comrie will not just each provide 25 tickets for each game but provide for transportation to and from the Nassau Coliseum. Said Bill Guerin's wife, Kara: "What you find is the transportation is every bit as important to the charities as the game tickets. Working with RexCorp Islanders Inspire, we're going to make this a day or night these children will never forget."

There are several ways for area businesses to get involved with RexCorp Islanders Inspire. For more information on this charitable program, please call 1.800.882.ISLES ext. 3 or email groupsales@newyorkislanders.com.

"No matter the level," said Mike Comrie, "we encourage Long Islanders to join us in making a difference in the lives of young children by participating in ISLANDERS INSPIRE."