DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings’ 2012-13 School Assembly Program season got off to a tremendous start on Thursday, as veteran forward Valtteri Filppula joined members of the club’s marketing department at St. Thecla Elementary School in Clinton Township to introduce 420 young Michiganders to the sport of hockey while also encouraging them to lead a healthy/active lifestyle. Former Red Wings alternate captain and current special assistant to the general manager Kris Draper will be a part of the school assembly team’s next appearance, scheduled to take place on Monday, September 10 at Holy Name School in Birmingham, Mich., beginning at 2:00pm.  (Story continues below photos)

Last season, the Red Wings School Assembly Team visited 100 local schools, reaching more than 40,000 students and providing 200 sets of equipment to physical education departments throughout southeastern Michigan. Sponsored by the Detroit Red Wings Foundation, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and The Kroger Company of Michigan, the Detroit Red Wings School Assembly Program will visit a total of 115 local schools during the 2012-13 NHL campaign. The program’s most up-to-date schedule can be found at www.DetroitRedWings.com/schoolassemblyschedule.

Currently in its third year of existence, the Detroit Red Wings School Assembly Program opens every appearance with an interactive lesson on exercise and healthy eating. This is then followed by an energetic hockey shootout competition pitting students against teachers. Schools participating in the program receive two full sets of floor hockey equipment complete with sticks and nets courtesy of the Detroit Red Wings Foundation as well as a Red Wings folder and a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan keepsake magnet that lists five fun afterschool activities.

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About the Detroit Red Wings Foundation:
The Detroit Red Wings Foundation is an affiliate of Ilitch Charities, a 501 (c)(3) organization. The Foundation invests in the future of our community by providing funds and resources to worthy causes that contribute to the growth of the sport of hockey.

About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan:
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a nonprofit corporation, provides and administers health care benefits to more than 4.3 million members residing in Michigan in addition to members of Michigan headquartered groups who reside outside the state. The company is committed to delivering affordable health care products tailored to lifestyles and specific health goals through a broad variety of plans for businesses, individuals, and seniors. Beyond health care coverage, the company provides impactful community initiatives and leadership in improving health care. It has fulfilled its unique nonprofit mission for more than 70 years. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is a nonprofit corporation and an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more information, visit bcbsm.com.

About The Kroger Co. of Michigan:
Incorporated in Michigan in 1909 and headquartered in Novi, The Kroger Co. of Michigan includes 16,000 associates, 130 Kroger stores, 45 fuel centers, 104 pharmacies and the Michigan Dairy. Kroger focuses its charitable efforts on supporting hunger relief, health and wellness initiatives, and local organizations in the communities it serves. The grocer has a long history of charitable contributions and was recently named number one among America’s most generous companies in a Chronicle of Philanthropy listing featured in Forbes Magazine. The list recognized companies that give back the most, with Kroger ranked first among companies contributing the largest percentage of their pre-tax profits. For more information about Kroger, please visit www.kroger.com.