By: Justin Boone
jboone@ticats.ca
When it comes to grading his performance, Marwan Hage has a group of evaluators that few other players have to turn to.
“Kids don’t lie. I always get honest opinions from them. They’ll tell you when you’re good and when you’re bad,” said Marwan, who gets to sit down and hear those honest opinions from local children participating in his community program Hage’s Heroes.
In 2007, the now fifth-year centre took a big step, establishing himself as an East Division All-Star in the middle of the Tiger-Cats offensive line, but it’s his work off the field that he takes the most pride in.
At every home game, Marwan brings a minor league football team to watch from the exclusive Hage’s Heroes seats at Ivor Wynne Stadium. He meets with the kids before the game, along with a couple other Ticats players, and then as the Tiger-Cats gets ready to take the field, the kids get to have lunch, put on their Hage’s Heros T-Shirts and head to their section.
“They get to do things that most kids never have a chance to. They’re on the sidelines for warm-up and they get to see themselves up on the big screen,” explained Marwan. “The whole experience is for them to enjoy themselves. To forget life, forget their troubles and come enjoy a game for free, we don’t ask for anything but their smile and their energy.”
This year Hage’s Heroes will grow allowing over 500 local children a chance to see Marwan and the Ticats take the field. Along with Marwan’s contributions several companies have got on board to help the initiative grow in 2008; Echo Freight, Great Lakes Feeder Lines, Centre 68 and Reebok.
Marwan considers himself an all-around player on the offensive line, he also has taken a multi-faceted approach to his charitable work. Bringing kids to the stadium on gameday is the first part, helping youth enjoy the game of football.
The second component is giving back to the underprivileged of Hamilton. At Thanksgiving, he joins former Ticat Angelo Mosca, as the two load up a truck full of turkeys and deliver them to a local food shelter, so everyone can enjoy a good Thanksgiving dinner.
The final component is making a different at McMaster Children’s Hospital. In early September Hage’s Heroes makes a donation to the Hospital to make the kids stay a little bit easier.
“Hage’s Heroes is one of the things I’m most proud of during my time in Hamilton. It’s a program we started with the idea of leaving a lasting impression in the TigerTown community. I had a lot of fun hanging out with the kids last season and I look forward to getting to meet some of the minor football teams from around the area this year.”
