Emotional Wayne Gretzky Delivers Talk About Family Influence in Philanthropy

The first time that ice-hockey legend Wayne Gretzky ever spoke at an event for a nonprofit organization was at the local Lion’s Club dinner when he was 10, where he was honored for his athletic feats (even at that age) and where he met his idol, Gordie Howe, another ice-hockey legend. The Ontario-born jock was told he didn’t have to give a speech, but the emcee thought otherwise.

Shaking from stage fright, he got up, said “Thank you,” and began to cry.

“That was my first introduction to charitable work, being with foundations and charitable giving,” Mr. Gretzky told attendees of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, in Vancouver, in his keynote speech. “It wasn’t memorable,” he deadpanned.

That recollection got a lot of laughs from the largest gathering of fundraisers in the world. But they also saw a vulnerable Mr. Gretzky, who, with his voice breaking, confided with the audience that his father had just been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease early that morning.

“That hits you right in the gut,” Mr. Gretzky says. “Something like that happens, there’s really no cure or answer. No amount of money can solve that kind of problem.”

For that reason, he spent most of his talk detailing his father’s sacrifice to make sure his son excelled at the sport, in which he’s been called the “Great One.” He talked about his father taking him to practice at a young age and, many years later, driving his father to Madison Square Garden for his last game.

But Mr. Gretzky also talked about his connections with philanthropy. In 2007, he established the Wayne Gretzky Foundation to help needy children in North America learn to play hockey. The organization provides uniforms, pays for time on the ice as well as hockey equipment, and raises money through a hockey camp.

Growing up, Mr. Gretzky mentioned the influence of his aunt, who had a mental disability but never had the resources to function independently in the world. Her situation inspired him to work with people with similar disabilities. And in gratitude to a children’s hospital that years earlier had treated his brother for clubfeet, Mr. Gretzky raised $500,000 at an event for the institution.

His experience fundraising with other celebrities, such as Michael Jordan, also motivated him to ensure that part of all the proceeds from his businesses goes to his foundation.

To the fundraisers gathered, he told them: “We need you people. You’re the hero of charities in North America.

“We can never do enough for charities and never raise enough money.”

Send an e-mail to Raymund Flandez.