POINTS OF LIGHT FOUNDATION TABS LaFONTAINE
FOR "GOAL!" AWARD
Honor recognizes volunteering and community
service
NEW YORK, NY, October 24, 2002 - It was with
some level of irony that former NHL great, Pat
LaFontaine was named as one of the recipients of
the First Annual Honorary GOAL! Award. The GOAL!
(Go On And Live) Awards recognize and celebrate
individuals who have overcome depression and
demonstrated an ability to "go on and live"
through volunteering and community service. The
initiative is sponsored by the Points of Light
Foundation and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.
Suffering his first documented bout with post
concussion syndrome as a result of a blow to the
head during an NHL game in 1996, LaFontaine
suffered through the depths of depression during
the final few years of his 15-season career. He
worked with a psychologist and, with the help of
family and friends, was able to overcome the
despair and emotional trauma that had rendered
him emotionally distraught.
He returned to the ice for the 1997-98 season,
as one of the leading scorers for the New York
Rangers. In March 1998, a career-ending head
injury finally led him to retirement from the
sport of hockey. However, that started him on a
new career. The account of his recovery is
riveting and documented in the 2001 Warner Books
release, Companions In Courage.
Having lived through that experience, Mr.
LaFontaine has devoted his life to performing
good deeds and services to the afflicted. His
current project focuses on the design and
delivery of unique interactive game rooms to
children's hospitals throughout North America.
Working with ESI Design of New York and
Microsoft, LaFontaine has been participating in
fund-raising activity to make the delivery of
these "CiC Rooms" a reality.
"Volunteering is a wonderful way to get back
into life for people who have overcome the
isolation of depression," said Robert K.
Goodwin, President and CEO of the Points of
Light Foundation. "The GOAL! Awards winners are
truly role models who've demonstrated that there
is hope beyond depression.
A panel of distinguished judges selected the ten
winners for their inspirational stories. Judges
evaluated the quality and scope of the
applicants' volunteer efforts and how these
activities demonstrated an ability to "go on and
live" a full life after overcoming depression.
Depression affects approximately 19 million
Americans each year and interferes with their
ability to work, sleep, eat, study and enjoy
pleasurable activities. Two-time Emmy
Award-nominated actress (and long-time
depression sufferer) Delta Burke is the national
spokesperson for the GOAL! Award. She said, "I
am proud to be a part of… and to celebrate
people who have overcome this condition.
Together, we hope to inspire others with our
dedication to living life to the fullest through
volunteering and all aspects of our lives."
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