A novel fundraising initiative has been launched to support the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation, offering bidders the chance to engage in unique, personal experiences with celebrities from the worlds of hockey, sports, and entertainment. Dubbed 'Celebrities for a Cure,' this online auction is facilitated through NHL.com and will feature between 100 and 150 lots running through August.
Inspired by Personal Loss
The driving force behind this campaign is Hersh Borenstein, a 57-year-old owner of Frozen Pond Hockey Collectibles and a long-time supporter of the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation. Borenstein's motivation stems from personal tragedy: his grandfather died of cancer, and a close childhood friend, Danielle Hoffman, passed away from ovarian cancer at age 51. 'It made me want to get off my ass and do something,' Borenstein said. He emphasized his reluctance to ask for money, but the response from celebrities was overwhelmingly positive.
A History of Experiential Giving
Borenstein's previous success with experiential charity included winning a tour of the Fox Studio lot with actor Hank Azaria, who voices Moe Szyslak on The Simpsons, in a 2007 charity auction. That experience inspired him to create a similar platform for cancer research. He also organized a 40-year reunion of the 1967 Stanley Cup champion Toronto Maple Leafs, which included a meet-and-greet auction with stars like Joe Thornton, Vincent Lecavalier, and Patrick Roy.
Unique Experiences on Offer
The current auction features a wide array of exclusive opportunities. Highlights include a fishing trip with Mark and Marty Howe near Marty's home in Connecticut, a golf outing with Wendel Clark in the Muskokas via ClubLink, and a foursome with TSN's James Duthie at the Lebovic course in Toronto. Other offerings include a Hockey Hall of Fame tour with Phil Pritchard, the 'Keeper of the Stanley Cup,' and sit-downs with baseball legend Joe Carter and figure skating star Kurt Browning.
Some experiences are time-sensitive, such as a backstage pass and meet-and-greet with legendary coach Scotty Bowman and actor David Arquette at the Niagara Falls Comicon on June 5-7. Prominent actors Mr. T, Robert Englund (Freddy Krueger from A Nightmare on Elm Street), and wrestler Mick Foley have also answered the call, while others are finalizing their schedules for later in 2026-27.
Media and Hockey Personalities Join In
Media personalities Christine Simpson, Rod Black, Gurdeep Ahluwalia, and author David Chilton have contributed, with Chilton donating 500 copies of his bestseller 'The Wealthy Barber.' Borenstein noted that hockey people are particularly generous, citing the Howe family's support. Confirmed participants include Mike Palmateer, Larry Robinson, and Mike Krushelnyski for meet-and-greets. Brad Boyes will auction a special stick he used to score his only AHL hat trick, along with a Mats Sundin stick mistakenly sent to the farm team.
Other ideas in the works include a game night in the Maple Leafs Alumni box, tickets to a Seattle Kraken game with Brandon Montour, and a post-game locker-room visit. John Vanbiesbrouck, currently coaching Team USA at the world championships in Switzerland, has also pledged support. Borenstein concluded, 'Some players will just send money or a gift card; some will completely surprise you with what they can provide.'
For more information, visit frozenpond.com or auctions.nhl.com.
