Paint the Rink Pink 2015

Austin Bruins owner Craig Patrick presents a $26,122 donation Tuesday to Dr. Zigang Dong, Executive Director of The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, from the hockey team’s 5th annual “Paint the Rink Pink” game Feb. 7 to support breast cancer research. Pictured (left to right) are “Paint the Town Pink” director Kathi Finley; Nick Moe of Austin Bruins; Bruins co-owner Mike Cooper; Dr. Zigang Dong; Craig Patrick; Gail Dennison of The Hormel Institute; and Becky Meany and Kelsey Klapperick, of Austin Bruins.

Hockey team donates over $26,000 from recent ‘Paint the Rink Pink’

After five years of “Paint the Rink Pink,” the Austin Bruins hockey team now has raised more than $150,000 in support for The Hormel Institute’s breast cancer research and inspiring close to $500,000 from all of the “Paint the Town Pink” added activities.

Austin Bruins owners Craig Patrick and Mike Cooper today presented a $26,122 donation to Dr. Zigang Dong, Executive Director of The Hormel Institute, from funds raised during the team’s 5th annual “Paint the Rink Pink” game on

Feb. 7. The game – which was the fifth-consecutive “Paint the Rink Pink” sellout of more than 2,000 fans at Riverside Arena – put the Bruins’ overall fundraising total at more than $150,000 for the past five years.

“It’s amazing to me that five years ago what is now ‘Paint the Town Pink’ started in a meeting room at The Hormel Institute, where ‘Paint the Rink Pink’ was born,” Patrick said. “The level of support for these events by the people of Austin and the surrounding communities is truly inspiring.”

Patrick added that he and Cooper are thankful for everyone’s support and “are humbled by the great efforts of all involved in PTTP.”

Started in 2011, the Austin Bruins’ “Paint the Rink Pink” hockey game, featuring pink ice and special hockey jerseys auctioned after the game, experienced great success from the start, leading to a communitywide “Paint the Town Pink” effort being launched in 2012 for The Hormel Institute’s cancer research that has spread in recent years to communities, such as Blooming Prairie, Brownsdale. Rose Creek and Adams.

“All of us are very grateful for the Austin Bruins organization that launched this wonderful and inspirational initiative that helps expand awareness and support for The Hormel Institute’s cancer research,” said Dr. Zigang Dong, who addressed the crowd during the first intermission of this year’s game. “With the Bruins’ leadership, the generous and caring people of Austin and surrounding communities – through their donations – join our researchers on the front lines of cancer research, helping to make progress against breast cancer and other forms of this horrendous disease that affects so many.”

Donations still are coming in for this year’s 5th annual “Paint the Town Pink” initiative, which still has an array of events happening this weekend through March 8 in Rose Creek, Blooming Prairie and Brownsdale. PTTP officials, however, are confident this year’s efforts will put “Paint the Town Pink” over its goal of topping $500,000 overall for five years.

Businesses, organizations and individuals who have PTTP donations yet to submit can stop by The Hormel Institute’s main lobby from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. this Wednesday (Feb. 18) and next Wednesday (Feb. 25) for a gift presentation, “Thank You” photo with PTTP Director Kathi Finley.