Key Takeaways
- Sharks Ice San Jose hosted a 3v3 Jolly Jingle Jamboree on December 23, with more than 500 youth hockey players participating across age divisions from 6U through 18U
- Tournament entry fees included a donation to the Sharks Alumni Foundation, which awarded 49 grants totaling $71,250 in 2025
- The Foundation maintains a 94% fundraising efficiency rate, directing most funds toward youth sports access
- Scholarship support extends beyond hockey to include roller hockey, fastpitch softball, jiu-jitsu, basketball, and baseball
- Families use grants to cover equipment, tuition, and travel costs that otherwise limit youth sports participation
Tournament Structure and Participation
Sharks Ice San Jose ran the Jolly Jingle Jamboree as a cross-ice 3v3 tournament on Tuesday, December 23. Teams consisted of four skaters and one goalie, playing three eight-minute running-time periods per game. Each team was guaranteed three games.
The tournament drew participants from house and travel programs spanning 6U House through 16U/18U divisions. Players competed in holiday-themed gear, and the entry fee covered drink tickets and participation gifts alongside the charitable contribution.
Financial Impact on Bay Area Families
The Sharks Alumni Foundation distributed $71,250 across 49 grants in 2025. Richard DeCastro, a local parent whose family received scholarship support, explained the program’s value: “It’s a huge help for a lot of families around here who are in need of equipment, help with tuition, travel costs. You know, the help really goes a long way, it helps out a lot.”
The Foundation’s 94% fundraising efficiency means nearly all donated funds reach families and programs directly. Grants address multiple cost barriers, including equipment purchases, registration fees, and travel expenses that accumulate over a season.
Multi-Sport Scholarship Reach
While the December tournament focused on hockey participation, the Sharks Alumni Foundation supports athletes across six sports: ice hockey, roller hockey, fastpitch softball, jiu-jitsu, basketball, and baseball. This broader approach allows the organization to address youth sports access beyond a single discipline.
The Foundation’s approach stems from the professional hockey backgrounds of its leadership, who cite firsthand experience with the developmental benefits of youth sports participation, including confidence building, teamwork skills, and long-term commitment.
The Jolly Jingle Jamboree model combines competitive youth sports programming with fundraising for local scholarship needs. For families in the Bay Area facing financial constraints on youth sports participation, programs like the Sharks Alumni Foundation provide specific cost relief that determines whether children can access team sports.
The December event drew participation from across age groups and skill levels, indicating sustained interest in tournament formats that pair competition with community support. With more than 500 players involved in a single-day event, the jamboree demonstrated the scale of youth hockey participation in the San Jose market.
via: NHL
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