Ilitch Charities Awards Scholarships to Little Caesars Youth Hockey Players

		Ilitch Charities awarded $20,000 in scholarships July 29 to student athletes from Little Caesars youth hockey programs. The students were honored at Hockeytown Cafe in Detroit, where Ilitch Charities Chairman Christopher Ilitch, Detroit Red Wings Assistant General Manager Jim Nill and Detroit Red Wings Vice President Steve Yzerman were in attendance. Top (from left): Joey Van Geison, Colin Kuriwchak. Bottom: Gregory Logan, Ashleigh Subu, Melissa Perry, Alec Thieda. Not pictured: Nathan Jack. (PRNewsFoto/Ilitch Charities) DETROIT, MI UNITED STATES

DETROIT, July 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Ilitch Charities, the charitable arm of the Ilitch companies, awarded $20,000 in scholarships today to seven student athletes from the Little Caesars AAA Hockey Program and the Little Caesars Amateur Hockey League (LCAHL). The students were honored at a luncheon at Hockeytown Cafe in Detroit, where Ilitch Charities Chairman Christopher Ilitch presented the scholarships. The honorees included:
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080729/CLTU129 ) Little Caesars AAA Hockey Program -- Melissa Perry of Chelsea, Mich. -- Alec Thieda of Rochester Hills, Mich. Little Caesars Amateur Hockey League -- Nathan Jackson of Ossian, Ind. -- Colin Kuriwchak of Monroe, Mich. -- Gregory Logan of Brooklyn, Mich. -- Ashleigh Subu of Rives Junction, Mich. -- Joey Van Geison of Battle Creek, Mich. "The Little Caesars youth hockey players we honor today have excelled beyond the ranks, both academically and athletically," said Christopher Ilitch, who is also president and CEO of Ilitch Holdings, Inc. "They represent some of the best young hockey talent in the country, and Ilitch Charities is pleased to help them pursue their educational goals with these scholarships." Each year, Ilitch Charities honors outstanding Little Caesars hockey players with a scholarship toward the college or university of their choice. To qualify for the scholarship, students are required to maintain a 3.0 high school grade point average or above, be a current member of a Little Caesars AAA or LCAHL team and have plans to attend a college or university within the next two years. The Little Caesars AAA Hockey Program and the Little Caesars Amateur Hockey League are two of the country's most respected youth hockey programs. Nearly 15,000 male and female athletes across the Midwest participate. Thousands of players have moved on to play collegiate hockey and more than 100 have played in the National Hockey League (NHL). In 2008, a record number of Little Caesars AAA Hockey teams advanced to the national championships. Six teams attended and three teams returned with national titles. Michael and Marian Ilitch began supporting youth hockey in 1962, just three years after they founded Little Caesars Pizza. About Ilitch Charities Ilitch Charities invests in the community's future by supporting innovative, collaborative and measurable programs that promote economic development and spur job growth. The organization funds programs that improve the well being of individuals in areas such as human services, job creation, education and recreation. For more information, visit IlitchCharities.org. Ilitch Charities is affiliated with the companies owned by Michael and/or Marian Ilitch, long-time Detroit entrepreneurs. Ilitch companies include: Ilitch Holdings, Inc., Little Caesars Pizza, Blue Line Foodservice Distribution, Champion Foods, the Detroit Red Wings, Olympia Entertainment, Little Caesar Pizza Kits Fundraising Program, Olympia Development and Uptown Entertainment. Additionally, Michael Ilitch owns the Detroit Tigers, Inc. Marian Ilitch owns MotorCity Casino Hotel.