BREAKING: Winnipeg Jets Head Coach Scott Arniel Donates $5.5 Million to Support Homeless Children Across Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB — May 12, 2025
In a deeply moving gesture that transcends the world of hockey, Winnipeg Jets head coach Scott Arniel has donated $5.5 million to establish and fund a wide-reaching initiative aimed at supporting homeless children across the province of Manitoba.
The initiative, titled “Project Safe Start”, will provide emergency housing, mental health services, educational support, and long-term care programs for youth experiencing homelessness—many of whom are facing severe poverty, trauma, or family abandonment.
“This province has given me and my family so much,” Arniel said during a press conference at the Bell MTS Place. “It’s time I give something back—not just to the game, but to the future of these kids who deserve every opportunity to succeed.”
The $5.5 million donation will go directly into building two new transitional housing centers in Winnipeg and Brandon, outfitted with classrooms, counseling rooms, and recreational facilities. Additional funding will be used to partner with local non-profits already doing groundwork in shelters and drop-in centers.
Jets captain Josh Morrissey called Arniel’s act “nothing short of inspiring,” adding, “It shows what leadership really looks like—on and off the ice.”
Premier Wab Kinew also issued a statement: “Coach Arniel’s generosity will change lives. This kind of community leadership is exactly what we need to lift up our most vulnerable youth.”
Arniel, who recently led the Jets to a historic 56-22-4 season and a Presidents’ Trophy, has long been known as a coach with heart—but today, he’s proven he’s just as committed to people as he is to hockey.
With this donation, Scott Arniel isn’t just building a legacy behind the bench—he’s building hope.
