This season, Snider Learn to Lead student-athletes have continued to prove their commitment to leadership and community service both on and off the ice. Across six travel teams and four Snider Hockey League (SHL) teams, 129 students completed a combined 198 service hours through different engagement and mentorship initiatives. From supporting local organizations to mentoring younger Snider students, these projects allowed students to pay it forward in the Philadelphia community while building leadership skills and strengthening team connections.
Travel Team Service Events:
18A – National
Students of the 18A National travel team partnered with Caring for Friends, whose mission is to provide food and friendship to seniors, kids, and adults in the 5-county Philadelphia region who experience food insecurity. Students worked together to create more than 190 sandwiches and snack bags to be distributed throughout the city. The team also participated in a discussion about the importance of access to food and stability, learning more about the impact Caring for Friends has on the communities they serve.
18AA
Students-athletes of the Snider 18 AA travel team created handwritten letters for students on the Snider 8U travel team to encourage mentorship and connection between older and younger athletes. Each letter included advice, words of encouragement and reflections on why they enjoy playing for Snider. These students also put together buddy bags filled with game-day essentials for their younger partners, helping build meaningful relationships across the program.
Girls 16U
The Snider Girls 16U travel team completed a service project in support of the Ronald McDonald House of Philadelphia. Students created 10 hand-sewn blankets for families arriving at the house. The team also participated in a discussion about how small acts of kindness can make a meaningful difference for families who are facing difficult circumstances.
16A – National
The 16U A National travel team partnered with Sharing Excess to help distribute food to neighbors in West Philadelphia. Sharing Excess works to rescue and redistribute more than two million pounds of food each week across the country. During the event, students helped distribute fresh produce at a community pop-up, supporting local efforts to reduce food waste and address food insecurity.
16A – American
Students of the 16A American travel team volunteered with the Pennsylvania SPCA, where they created toys for animals at the shelter. These students also received a tour of the facility and learned more about the organization’s mission to protect animals and promote responsible care. The experience highlighted the important role animal welfare organizations play in maintaining a healthy community.
Girls 19U
The Girls 19U travel team hosted a special mentorship event for younger Snider student-athletes from the introductory and 8U programs. The team welcomed six younger girls for a read-aloud of The Girls, a book focused on the importance of female friendship. After the reading, students paired up to create friendship bracelets and discuss respect, teamwork, and supporting female athletes in sports.
Snider Hockey League Team Events:
Tarken 18U
The Tarken 18U SHL team volunteered with C2C Philadelphia, helping sort clothing donations that will be redistributed to individuals experiencing clothing insecurity throughout the city. By organizing donated items, the team helped ensure essential clothing reaches neighbors who need it most.
Sims 18U
The Sims 18U team partnered with Caring for Friends to support neighbors facing hunger in Philadelphia. Students created 120 snack bags along with caring cards filled with supportive messages. The items will be distributed to individuals in need through the organization’s community outreach efforts.
Scanlon 18U
The Scanlon 18U team created Valentine’s Day friendship cards in partnership with Blessings in a Backpack. The notes will be included in weekly meal packs distributed to school-aged children in Philadelphia who experience food insecurity. Through this initiative, students helped add a personal and encouraging touch to the meals families receive.
Simons 18U
The Simons 18U SHL team assembled 100 hygiene packs for the St. Francis Inn in Philadelphia. Students filled bags with essential hygiene products for individuals visiting the shelter and participated in a discussion about the importance of community engagement in supporting neighbors in need.
Through these service events, Snider student-athletes demonstrated the values of leadership, mentorship and community responsibility, values that are essential to Snider’s mission. By partnering with local organizations and supporting one another across age groups, students made a meaningful impact both within the Snider community and throughout Philadelphia. These experiences not only provide important support to local organization but also shape the next generation of leaders on and off the ice.
