FOR ROB OLEKSYN, COACHING YOUTH HOCKEY IS ABOUT MORE THAN A SCOREBOARD
At Lauren, we know strong communities are built through opportunity, teamwork, and support. That’s the thinking behind the Lauren Youth Sports Fund, an initiative created to help reduce barriers for youth participating in organized sports in the communities where we live and work.
Each quarter, Lauren donates $2,000 to local youth teams to support essential needs such as equipment, tournament fees, travel, and facility rentals. The program is driven by nominations from Lauren team members who are directly connected to the teams and communities being supported.
One of our most recent teams selected was the West Kelowna 2015 AA Jr Warriors, a youth hockey team made up of young athletes in the Okanagan. Funding from the Lauren Youth Sports Fund helped the team purchase secondary jerseys required for tournament play and allowed the team to participate in an additional tournament in Vancouver. Without that support, families would have faced significantly higher costs throughout the year.
For Lauren Project Manager Rob Oleksyn, the team is more than just hockey.
As both a coach and mentor, Oleksyn has seen how youth sports shape young athletes far beyond the game itself. “One thing people often overlook is how deeply youth sports shape character, not just athletic ability,” says Oleksyn. “Kids are learning teamwork, integrity, accountability, and discipline… skills that stay with them long after the season ends.”
Oleksyn says coaching is motivated by seeing young athletes gain confidence through encouragement, repetition, and growth. “When a kid believes they can’t do something, and then through guidance and support they realize they can, it changes them,” he says. “It’s about helping them become better players, but more importantly, better people.”
“We are very grateful for the support,” the team shared. “Contributions like this help keep kids in the game by making hockey more affordable and accessible for families.”
Through the Lauren Youth Sports Fund, Lauren continues to support programs that strengthen communities, create opportunities for youth, and reflect the values that matter most to our people. We encourage you to nominate a deserving team for the Lauren Youth Sports Fund before the next round of nominations closes on August 15, 2026, and help extend that impact to even more young athletes.
