The Quad City Mallards tonight teamed with the Genesis Health Services Foundation and KWQC TV6 to raise $17,700 for the Genesis Family Connects program through a game-worn jersey auction after the Mallards’ game against the Wichita Thunder at the iWireless Center.

The special edition fan-designed jerseys worn by the Mallards tonight in their 3-1 win over the Thunder went up for bid in a live auction immediately following the contest.  The jersey of Mallards forward Kevin Baker went for the evening’s high bid of $1,100.

Over the last 20 years, Mallards jersey auctions have raised over $800,000 to benefit Genesis Health System charities.  Tonight’s auction is the second of two the Mallards have held this season to raise a total of nearly $37,000 for Genesis Health System charities.  After the Mallards’ January 31 meeting with the Brampton Beast, bidding on game-worn “old school” jerseys raised $19,275 for the Genesis Flu-Free QC program.

Genesis Family Connects ensures that within the first 3 weeks of babies leaving the hospital, specially trained Genesis Visiting Nurses will provide in-home health assessments of mothers and newborns, as well as discuss the social conditions affecting the family. Family Connects is open to all families regardless of income, status or number of children in the home.
 
The sweaters worn this evening by the Mallards were designed by Australian Heath Morrison, the winner of the team’s fan jersey design contest.  Tonight’s auction was conducted by Stenzel Auction Service, a family owned business that has been providing auction and appraisal services for over 50 years.  More information on Stenzel Auction Service and be found at www.stenzelauction.com.

The Mallards return to action tomorrow at 4:05 p.m. against the Missouri Mavericks on home ice.  Children 12 and under can get tickets for just $5 for every Mallards Sunday home game.  After Sunday’s game fans can bring their skates and join the Mallards on the ice for a post-game skate.

Tickets for all remaining Mallards regular season home games- including tomorrow’s contest- are on sale now at the iWireless Center box office, Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com and Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free at 1-800-745-3000.  The box office is open weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and game days from 10:00 a.m. until the start of the second period.  Tickets are available for $10, $16, $20 and $28.