Coyotes’ Chayka, Cohen to donate part of salaries for coronavirus relief

The Arizona Coyotes announced on Tuesday that GM John Chayka and CEO Ahron Cohen would each donate 20% of their salaries to support the Arizona Coronavirus Relief Fund and other non-profits.

A start and end date wasn’t given, but the measure was described as happening “over the coming months.”

The Coyotes already announced they would pay a significant portion of what would otherwise be lost wages for employees adversely affected by the suspension of games. The NHL announced earlier in March that the season was put on pause indefinitely.

“We were just fortunate to … be able to make that commitment to Arizona,” Chayka told reporters in a video call on Tuesday. “Obviously we’re a hockey team, but we’re a community asset. It’s tough for everybody. We really respect the frontline workers that are dealing with this war as it comes through.

“We wanted to do whatever we could to help the state of Arizona.”

The Arizona Coronavirus Relief Fund intends exists to give financial support to organizations that work to mitigate the adverse effects of the deadly pandemic that has swept across the world. The fund focuses on protective equipment for medical personnel and providing resources to Arizona’s most vulnerable.

“Arizona has been our team’s home for nearly 25 years and this community has rallied around the Coyotes in good times and bad,” Cohen said in a statement. “In a moment of such critical need, my wife Dana and I feel compelled to do what we can as a family to help our Arizona family. As a business leader, a husband, a father and an Arizonan, I see this as our privilege and responsibility to help support the people of this great State.  I know we will make it through this challenge as a result of all of us Arizonans rallying together.”

The Star newspaper in Toronto reported Tuesday that the 14 Wendy’s restaurant stores Chayka and his wife Kathryn co-own in Ontario would donate and deliver 1,000 or more meals to those who are on the front lines trying to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

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