For Immediate Release: 2/19/2015 3:55 pm
Worcester, MA (February 19, 2015) - There are 6,100 fire hydrants across the City of Worcester, and each one of them could save someone's life. With that knowledge, the City of Worcester, the Worcester Sharks, the Worcester Bravehearts, the DCU Center and the Harlem Globetrotters are offering prize packages to Worcester residents who help the City dig out from this winter's record-breaking snow and improve public safety in their community.
Every resident who posts a photo of their shoveled-out hydrant on Twitter or Facebook with the hashtag #woochallenge will be entered to win a prize package from the Sharks, Bravehearts or the Globetrotters. You can also tag the City of Worcester's official accounts: @tweetworcester on Twitter or Worcester Massachusetts (Government) on Facebook.
In addition to three grand prize packages, the first 20 people to post will get a free ticket to the Globetrotters game at the DCU Center at 7:00 PM on March 27.
On Sunday, the Worcester Fire Department responded to two structure fires. No one was injured in either fire, thanks to the quick work of Worcester firefighters. They were aided by neighbors who had already shoveled out nearby hydrants before the calls came in.
"Worcester is blessed with a well-trained, highly skilled and supremely dedicated fire department, but they can't do it alone," said City Manager Edward Augustus. "During a fire, every second counts. Every fire hydrant that Worcester residents can dig out is one more that is available to firefighters who may need it to save someone's life."
"The Bravehearts are happy to help the City of Worcester and Worcester Fire Department with this initiative," said Dave Peterson, general manager of the Worcester Bravehearts. "We're fortunate to have Kevin Hartigan, a Worcester firefighter, on our coaching staff, and we want to do our part to make sure he and his colleagues are best-positioned to suppress fires as quickly as possible. In crisis situations, every second counts. Be brave, have a heart, dig it out."
"It is hard to believe that the snow accumulation in the City of Worcester has surpassed 7-feet 6-inches this winter," said 7-foot 4-inch Stretch Middleton, the third tallest Harlem Globetrotter in the team's 89-year history. "As the Ambassadors of Goodwill, the Globetrotters are pleased to assist the City in clean-up efforts and reward residents who clear out their local fire hydrants with tickets to our game at DCU Center."
Sandy Dunn, General Manager of the DCU Center said "As the single-most performed event in the DCU Center's 32 year history, we knew the Harlem Globetrotters would want to be a part of this cooperative effort." Dunn continued, "Harlem Globetrotters International is an organization that has become a part of the fabric of our community and we are proud to call them our partners."
Drawings for the prize packages will take place throughout February and March, starting this weekend before the Sharks game. The Worcester Sharks Heroes Night presented by Unum to benefit Habitat for Humanity is this Saturday, February 21st at 7:00 PM at the DCU Center when the Sharks host the Norfolk Admirals. All military, police, fire and first responders will receive a free ticket to the game at the DCU Center Box Office on the day of the game, and will have the opportunity to purchase up to four tickets for family and friends for just $10 each. For more information, call the Sharks front office at (508) 929-0500 or visit http://www.sharksahl.com.
Prize packages are as follows:
WORCESTER SHARKS
WORCESTER BRAVEHEARTS
HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS
