The Ralph & Sonia Scurfield Humanitarian Award is presented annually by the Calgary Flames organization to the Flames player who best exemplifies perseverance, determination and leadership on the ice, combined with dedication to community service off the ice.
The Flames named Travis Hamonic as this year’s recipient. He would be the first back-to-back award winner since Rhett Warrener who won it in 2005-06 & 2006-07. Other back-to-back winners include Jarome Iginla (2000-01 & 2001-02) and Ed Ward (1997-98 & 1998-99). Members of the Scurfield family will be awarding Travis during an on-ice ceremony prior to tonight’s game.
Adding to their already two existing initiatives, D-Partner Program and the Northern Project, Travis and his wife Stephanie recently announced a new community initiative titled Charlie’s Children. With support from the Calgary Flames Foundation, Women In Need Society (WINS) and West Coast Kids, Charlie’s Children provides low income families or single parents expecting a newborn with resources and supplies. After the birth of their first child, Charlie, Stephanie and Travis wanted to help other new families and parents with the costs and needs associated with becoming a parent and preparing for a child.
Funding for this initiative has been provided by the Hamonic’s and is matched by the Calgary Flames Foundation. Funds have been directed to WINS for the purchase of newborn necessities for eligible families.
Travis holds his other two initiatives near to his heart, first being his D-Partner Program. At the age of 10, Hamonic sadly lost his father Gerald to a heart attack and upon making the NHL, has paid tribute to him through his D-Partner Program. The initiative offers children who have lost a parent the chance to receive VIP treatment at a Flames game that includes a post-game visit with the defenseman.
Lastly, prior to the start of the 2017-18 season, Travis and his wife Stephanie expanded their philanthropy by creating The Northern Project, an initiative that sees Indigenous children from the Canadian territories come to Calgary for a weekend on an all-expenses paid trip courtesy of the Hamonics. Being Métis himself, Travis holds his roots very close to his heart and through this, provides children and their families an opportunity that otherwise may not be able to experience.
After a life threating illness to his newborn daughter Charlie, Travis also made a sizeable donation to the Alberta Children’s Hospital during their annual Caring for Kids Radiothon.
These funds will be used to purchase much needed medical equipment. On top of the donation, he wanted to also thank the nurses and doctors who treated Charlie by donating his personal tickets for the remainder of the Flames season.
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