PenFed is giving a GR8 opportunity for Washington Capitals fans to have the chance to watch captain Alex Ovechkin make history, while also supporting veterans.
With Ovechkin only seven goals from passing Wayne Gretzky as the top goal scorer in NHL history, the PenFed Foundation is auctioning off tickets in the PenFed suite at Capital One Arena for four upcoming games to help raise money for veterans.
PenFed Foundation President, Andrea McCarren said the idea came from her 29-year-old son.
“My son is a huge Caps fan and got the idea from when the LA Lakers auctioned off tickets for charity when LeBron [James] was close to setting his record,” she said in reference to the Lakers star passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the all-time leading scorer in the NBA. “It was a great idea and a great way to continue to give back to those who have served.”
According to the foundation’s website, PenFed Foundation’s mission is to support service members as they transition to civilian life, empowering them to find their purpose after the military and realize their potential.
“People who served in the military lose their sense of community and support system when they leave the military and we want to be proactive, and instead of focusing on the negative, we strive to get to the service member before they leave the military so that we can help them avoid those catastrophic milestones,” McCarren said.
Every dollar raised will go entirely towards veterans through PenFeds’ programs that support veterans as they transition out of the military and back into the real world.
“Every dollar helps. We use this money to help connect vets to employment, professional training, really just anything to help them reach their potential and thrive in the outside world,” McCarren said. “Veterans are natural born leaders and have an incredible skillset and having the opportunity to help them through our foundation’s programs is what we strive to be able to do.”
The first available game to bid on will be March 30 against the Buffalo Sabres. The starting bid is $1,000 and the auction winner will receive two tickets to the game. Two pairs of tickets are available for this auction, with the top two bidders each receiving two tickets.
The second game up for bid is for April 4 against the Chicago Blackhawks. The starting bid is $2,000 for two tickets.
The third game available will be April 10 against the Carolina Hurricanes, with the starting bid at $2,000. Two pairs of tickets are available for this auction, with the top two bidders each receiving two tickets.
The fourth and last available game will be for April 13 against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The starting bid is $2,000, with three pairs of tickets available. The top three bidders will each receive a pair of tickets.
The bidding closes three days prior to each game at noon.
“This auction we are doing means everything; it means the world for us to give others the chance to witness history,” McCarren said in reference to Ovechkin’s goal-record chase. “It’s so important for us to not only support our military and veterans but also to give back to the public.”
Auction ticket winners also have the option to give their tickets away by sponsoring a veteran who would like the chance to attend a game but doesn't have the means to do so, including combat veterans.
Since 2001, PenFed Foundation has been driven to find ways to assist veterans and their families, helping more than 150,000 people through programs such as the Military Heroes Program and the Veteran Entrepreneur Program.
Air Force veteran Nick Grillo has been one of those people to thrive outside of the military with the help of the PenFed Foundation and is ready to give back to his veteran community by participating in the Capitals ticket auction.
After deciding to leave the military in 2020 after nearly 12 years of service, Grillo moved to the D.C. area with his now wife and began his entrepreneurial journey. After a successful initial business in the smart home and integration sector, the company Elevate Vending was born in 2023.
“I had the great opportunity to benefit from PenFed’s Veteran Entrepreneur Program, which helped my business get to the next level,” he said. “The foundation got me in front of successful entrepreneurs to help our business get to the next level by giving us resources as a small business we would otherwise not be able to get.”
PenFed Foundation’s Veteran Entrepreneur Program, which has helped more than 120 military founders, offers seminars with business leaders covering topics such as business development, marketing, legal considerations and investor pitching.
“PenFed has given back massively to the veteran community,” Grillo said. “After you get out of service, you feel alone and on an island. I can tell you as someone who went through it, being part of that program was the first time I felt surrounded by vets and people who just got it.”
Grillo is excited to be able to help other veterans like him succeed outside of the military by participating in the Capitals ticket auction.
“Having grown up playing the sport competitively since the age of 3, it was an outlet for me as a kid and young teen while trying to navigate a turbulent childhood. Hockey became my sanctuary and taught me what it felt like to give back to something greater; a team,” he said. “Coming to the DMV, my excitement for hockey was truly reignited.”
He said he cannot imagine a better way to be able to support veterans than through hockey.
“With Ovi being seven goals away, history is in our backyard,” he said. “Being around the arena, the team and the movement behind the Capitals organization has been a remarkable thing to see. Being able to witness history in the making, right here in my backyard, is truly amazing.”
Grillo said he appreciates that rather than just giving the tickets out, PenFed thought, ‘how can we move things forward and give back?’
“They really have the same ideology that we have at Elevate Vending, which is to give back,” he said. “They’re giving back to companies like us and it’s just phenomenal to see.”
Although this is the first time PenFed has auctioned off tickets to be a part of their suite for the games, McCarren hopes it isn’t the last.
“I know that Caps fans are so passionate about their team and there’s really no better way to support Ovi, his fans and veterans than by doing this,” McCarren said. “We’d love to see this be a success and be able to do it again in the future.”
To bid on tickets for a game, visit here.