Ethan Cox
2009-2010 HUMANITARIAN AWARD WINNER Colgate University
Detroit MI, April 9, 2010
Success has no boundaries as long as no one is concerned with who gets the credit. Colgate senior co-captain Ethan Cox has epitomized that long held adage by giving to others unreservedly, and putting community and family first.
Today, Cox was named the 15th recipient of the BNY Mellon Wealth Management Hockey Humanitarian Award, created to acknowledge outstanding student-athletes who have embraced humanitarian efforts with unbounded passion.
Cox and his impressive body of philanthropic work was recognized this evening at Ford Field in Detroit, site of the 2010 NCAA Men’s Frozen Four, in conjunction with the Hobey Baker Memorial Award ceremony and the Frozen Four Skills Challenge.
The desire to give came early to Cox. “My parents were both teachers and they instilled in me the notion of giving back ever since my brother and I were children,” says Cox, a native of Richmond, BC. “They told me to always be thankful and the best way to express that is to give back to those less fortunate than I am.” An early example of his commitment occurred as a junior hockey player in Powell River, BC, when he and his teammates put together a local radio show. There was music and banter, but also a more serious side.
“It was all about fun, but we used the show as a means of promoting what we’d be doing in the community, like raising money for various causes, visiting schools and running youth clinics,” Cox remembers. “I took a lot of those ideas with me when I went to Colgate. I realized that with committed individuals coming together and the blessing of my coach, we could have a positive influence on both the college, Hamilton and surrounding communities.”
In his four years at Colgate, Cox has done just that, receiving considerable recognition for his leadership efforts. One of his first and biggest projects was a holiday food drive, which has become a tradition. During the 2009 holiday season, over 1,000 pounds of non-perishable food items were donated.
Overall, he and his fellow athletes have raised over $14,000 in cash and donated items for various local and national charities. Says Cox, “There’s such a need. The number of families under the poverty line in Madison County is very high.” In addition to donating food to these families, Cox has also organized holiday toy drives in each of the last four years through the Interfaith Holiday Project.
Having lost four immediate family members to cancer, Cox feels a personal commitment to eradicating this devastating disease. For two seasons running, Cox has spearheaded an event called “Facing-off Against Cancer,” where donations were collected for each Colgate face-off win during its two-game weekend series. Funds were also raised by generating sponsorships and money pledges throughout the campus, Hamilton and its local communities.
In 2008 alone, Cox helped raise $25,000 for the American Cancer Society. Moreover, due to Cox’s leadership and initiative, the overall volunteer activity of all of Colgate’s sports teams has risen sharply. For example, Cox worked with the football team to successfully encourage students campus-wide to be tested for possible bone marrow matches. He also played a vital role in helping Colgate’s women’s soccer team raise funds for both a player’s cancer treatment and the American Cancer Society.
Cox has never looked for credit, but finds satisfaction in helping others. “It is an amazing feeling to see such a big response,” Cox says. “Without our fans, these events wouldn’t be possible.”
His coach is a staunch supporter. “The best part about Ethan’s involvement is that he doesn’t do it for the recognition but rather because he believes it is the right thing to do,” says Raiders Head Coach Don Vaughan. “He sees an area where help is needed, formulates a plan and executes. He is a very special person and we are lucky to have had him as part of our team.”
It’s important to Cox that what he started at Colgate continues. His younger teammates have assured him that they will.
As for being this year’s Hockey Humanitarian recipient, Cox, as usual, is humble in response. “I don’t know how to feel,” he says. “It’s almost surreal. I’m excited but my real happiness comes in knowing what the Award will do for future recipients and for Colgate.”
Cox will be available for interviews after the HHA presentation at Ford Field.
Cox and his impressive body of philanthropic work was recognized this evening at Ford Field in Detroit, site of the 2010 NCAA Men’s Frozen Four, in conjunction with the Hobey Baker Memorial Award ceremony and the Frozen Four Skills Challenge.