NHL captain wins prestigious Muhammad Ali Award from ESPN

The award recognizes the sport’s most outstanding citizen and humanitarian for 2016-17.

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 6 years ago
NHL captain wins prestigious Muhammad Ali Award from ESPN
Keystone Press

The Calgary Flames have proudly announced that captain Mark Giordano is the winner of the 2016-17 Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award. The award, awarded annually to the athlete who best transforms lives and uplifts communities through the power of sport, was presented to the Flame’s blue liner at a prestigious event hosted by ESPN late last night.

As the award recipient Giordano will be able to direct a $100,000 grant from ESPN to his Team Giordanno charity which, to date, has already raised over $300,000 for four high-needs Calgary schools and has impacted the lives of over 1,900 students. The program provides school supplies and computers to students and promotes a healthy relationship between athletics and academic for life-long success.

It’s an extreme honor and one that Giordano doesn’t take lightly, saying at the time of his nomination, "I am truly humbled and honoured to be a finalist for this prestigious award. Muhammad Ali is one of the most recognizable and influential sports figures of all time. Along with his accomplishments as an athlete, Mr. Ali's selflessness, courage and compassion outside the boxing ring inspired so many around the world. “

Gongrats, Gio!