Hockey 4 Youth Foundation

What Hockey 4 Youth Foundation does

Hockey 4 Youth Foundation is a registered Canadian charity (CRA #839107018RR0001) founded in 2015 by Moezine (Moe) Hasham that delivers free ice hockey and off-ice life skills programs to newcomer and sidelined youth across Canada. The organization targets the documented participation gap in which 71% of new Canadian citizens express interest in hockey but only 1% actually participate, removing financial (avoiding the typical $4,000+ per-season minor hockey cost), equipment, and transportation barriers. Programs run through direct partnerships with high schools, municipal arenas, and community organizations in Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Hamilton, Windsor, Surrey, Vernon, and Edmonton, with over 600 youth served representing 38+ countries of origin.

The core offering consists of two integrated components. The on-ice program provides free equipment, ice time, professional coaching, and transportation to participants, with specialized tracks for newcomer girls and neurodivergent youth. The T.E.A.C.H. off-ice curriculum covers Technology, Entrepreneurship, Arts, Community Giving, and Healthy Active Living, elevating programming beyond sport instruction to holistic youth development. As of late 2022, the organization operated 11 programs working with nine high schools; since then it has expanded into British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario's Windsor region.

The business model is donation-based rather than revenue-generating. Hockey 4 Youth relies on individual charitable contributions (tax-receipted for Canadian residents), corporate sponsorships and equipment donations (Scotiabank, Bauer Hockey, Canadian Tire Jumpstart, Rogers, CCM), and foundation and league grants (Ontario Trillium Foundation, NHL/NHLPA Player Inclusion Coalition, Toronto Maple Leafs, Canucks for Kids Fund). The go-to-market motion is community-led: participants are reached through teacher recommendations, school administrators, and settlement worker referrals rather than paid acquisition. The organization is governed by a small board and operates with a 1-10 person team led by founder and Executive Director Moezine Hasham.

Name

Hockey 4 Youth Foundation

Legal name

Hockey 4 Youth Foundation

Website

https://hockey4youth.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hockey 4 Youth Foundation is a Toronto-based registered Canadian charity, founded in 2015, that delivers free ice hockey and T.E.A.C.H. life-skills programs to newcomer and sidelined youth across 8+ Canadian cities, serving 600+ participants from 38+ countries of origin.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Sports and Life Skills Programs

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Child and Youth Services (62411), Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Recreational & Intramural Sports Programs (MPAKACAG), Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN)

Keywords

• Youth ice hockey
• Community sports programs
• Newcomer youth services
• Hockey life skills
• Charitable youth programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Hockey 4 Youth is a registered Canadian charity (CRA #839107018RR0001) that relies on donations from individuals and organizations. Canadian residents receive tax receipts for their contributions. Donors can specify which program they wish to support via the Fund dropdown on the donation page.
2. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors provide financial support, equipment donations, and in-kind contributions. Partners include Scotiabank, Bauer Hockey, Canadian Tire Jumpstart, NHL, NHLPA, Rogers, and others. Some partnerships involve cause marketing where a portion of product proceeds is donated.
3. Foundation and Government Grants: The organization receives grants from foundations such as the Ontario Trillium Foundation and the NHL Player Inclusion Coalition ($5,000 USD grants to coalition members who select H4Y as grant recipients).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hockey 4 Youth Foundation delivers completely free ice hockey programs and an off-ice T.E.A.C.H. life-skills curriculum (Technology, Entrepreneurship, Arts, Community Giving, Healthy Active Living) to newcomer and sidelined youth of all genders across Canada. All equipment, ice time, transportation, and coaching are provided at no cost, removing the $4,000+ per-season financial barrier that typically prevents participation in minor hockey.

Product overview

Hockey 4 Youth Foundation offers a dual-program structure consisting of free ice hockey programs and the T.E.A.C.H. (Technology, Entrepreneurship, Arts, Community Giving, Healthy Active Living) off-ice program. The organization serves newcomer and sidelined youth of all genders across multiple Canadian cities, providing completely free access to equipment, ice time, transportation, coaching, and life skills education to facilitate social inclusion.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• T.E.A.C.H. Program: Off-ice life skills program standing for Technology, Entrepreneurship, Arts, Community Giving and Healthy Active Living.

Products and services

• Free Ice Hockey Programs Free ice hockey programs for newcomer and sidelined youth of all genders, providing equipment, ice time, transportation, and professional coaching to remove financial, logistical, and cultural barriers to participation in Canada's national sport.
• T.E.A.C.H. Program

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RogerscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 February 2024Rogers provided $50,000 donation to H4Y as charitable partner for 2024 NHL All-Star Weekend. Invited newcomer youth from across Canada to exclusive experiences including red carpet, Fan Fair, and skating with NHL All-Stars.
• Surrey RCMPminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 February 2024Partner in Surrey newcomer hockey program to help introduce the sport to students.
• Canucks for Kids FundcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 December 2023Canucks for Kids Fund partnered with H4Y for Metro Vancouver launch. Hosted 20 Surrey School students at Rogers Arena. One of six programs planned for British Columbia province.
• City of SurreycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 November 2023Partner in Surrey newcomer hockey program along with Surrey Schools, H4Y, Surrey RCMP, and Canucks for Kids Fund.
• Surrey School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 November 2023Partnership between Surrey Schools, H4Y, City of Surrey, Surrey RCMP, and Canucks for Kids Fund to provide hockey programming for newcomer students in Surrey, BC.
• NHL/NHLPA Player Inclusion CoalitioncoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 June 2023The NHL and NHLPA launched the Player Inclusion Coalition with $1 million+ USD earmarked for grassroots organizations. Hockey 4 Youth was chosen by Georges Laraque as his grant recipient. The coalition is co-chaired by Anson Carter and P.K. Subban. H4Y received a $5,000 USD grant and participated in All-Star Weekend events.
• Action for Healthy CommunitiesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 December 2022Edmonton-based partner connected during ball hockey clinic with Play On! and Mayor Sohi. Part of Edmonton program expansion.
• Play On!minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 December 2022National ball hockey organization that ran a ball hockey clinic for newcomer kids with H4Y in Edmonton during summer. Connected H4Y to Action for Healthy Communities.
• Bauer HockeycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 December 2022Bauer Hockey teamed up with H4Y to provide full sets of new equipment to girls in Montreal. NHL players Nick Suzuki, Marie-Philip Poulin, and Laura Stacey helped fit the players with equipment at a nearby rink.
• Buffalo SabresminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 December 2022Partnered with Toronto Maple Leafs and NHL for 2022 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic legacy project in Hamilton.
• CCM HockeyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 July 2022CCM Hockey collaborated with Sarah Nurse on Limited Edition Gold Stick. Portion of proceeds donated to Hockey 4 Youth to help grow the game.
• Toronto Maple LeafscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2017First major grant received in 2017 from Toronto Maple Leafs. This partnership, combined with exposure, led to third program expansion. The Leafs later partnered with Buffalo Sabres and NHL for Hamilton Heritage Classic legacy project.
• ScotiabankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerScotiabank partnered with H4Y through the book 'The Hockey Jersey' - a children's book about hockey inclusion with BIPOC author Jael Richardson and illustrator Chelsea Charles. All proceeds from book sales donated to H4Y. Scotiabank also provided $50,000 donation through Rogers for NHL All-Star Weekend.
• Canadian Tire JumpstartcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCanadian Tire's Jumpstart program is a named partner providing funding and support for youth sports access programs including H4Y.
• Montreal CanadienscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProvided funding for Montreal program alongside other corporate sponsors. Georges Laraque, former Montreal Canadiens player, serves as ambassador and selected H4Y for NHL Player Inclusion Coalition grant.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Right To Play: Right To Play is a global nonprofit that uses sport and play to educate and empower disadvantaged children. It shares H4Y's sport-for-youth-development thesis and competes for international and corporate foundation grants in the same donor pool.
• KidSport Canada: KidSport provides financial assistance to remove cost barriers for youth sport participation across Canada. It addresses the same 'financial barrier to organized sport' problem as H4Y and competes for the same corporate CSR and individual donor dollars.
• HEROS (Hockey Education Reaching Out Society): HEROS is a Vancouver-based charity using hockey to engage at-risk and newcomer youth. It is the closest direct peer to Hockey 4 Youth in mission, target population, and delivery model, and competes for similar corporate and league sponsorship dollars in the same Canadian geography.

Emerging players

• Special Olympics Canada: Special Olympics Canada provides adaptive sport programming for individuals with intellectual disabilities. H4Y's neurodivergent girls programming overlaps with Special Olympics' adapted-sports mandate, and both compete for inclusive-sport corporate and government funding.

Broad incumbents

• Canadian Tire Jumpstart: Jumpstart is a national, large-budget corporate charitable program that funds youth sport access across hundreds of communities. As a named H4Y partner, it sits in an overlapping space but operates at materially greater scale and brand reach.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Canada: Boys & Girls Clubs operate youth development programs across Canada including sport and recreation. They compete with H4Y for school, municipal, and corporate youth-development funding and for participant time across the same newcomer and underserved youth segments.
• Scotiabank Hockey for All (NHL/NHLPA backed programs): Scotiabank funds various hockey-access initiatives (including 'The Hockey Jersey' book proceeds for H4Y) and supports league-level inclusion programs. It represents the broader corporate hockey-inclusion ecosystem that competes for visibility and dollars alongside H4Y.

Regional players

• MLSE Foundation: MLSE Foundation supports sport-based youth development in Toronto and broader MLSE markets. It overlaps with H4Y's Toronto-based programming and corporate partnership ecosystem (NHL partners, Scotiabank), and is a peer for local donor attention.

Others

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada: BBBS provides mentorship and youth development programming for at-risk and newcomer youth across Canada. It is a peer for the same youth segment, corporate donors (Scotiabank, Rogers), and school/community referral channels, even though the delivery model (mentorship vs. sport) differs.
• Sport Canada / Canadian Sport Policy Programs: Sport Canada funds national sport-for-development and accessibility initiatives, often channeled through provincial/territorial bodies. H4Y competes with other recipients of these grants and for the same municipal recreation funding pools for youth sport access.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCq0qC8l5aJ5g8lHqLqX8v7w
• Facebookfacebook.com/hockey4youth
• Instagraminstagram.com/hockey4youth

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hockey 4 Youth Foundation