BREAKING NEWS : Edmonton oilers Former superstar Wayne Gretzky Donates Entire $12.9 Million Bonus and Sponsorship Earnings to Homeless Shelter Initiative to Help Fund 150 Units Housing with 300 Shelter Beds… “I’ve seen the effects of homelessness firsthand growing up, and I knew… Read more

In an astonishing display of generosity, Wayne Gretzky — the legendary “Great One” and former Edmonton Oilers superstar — has announced that he is donating his entire **$12.9 million** in bonus payments and sponsorship revenue toward a new homelessness intervention project in Edmonton. The funds will be used to develop **150 housing units** and provide **300 emergency shelter beds** for people in need.

> “I’ve seen the effects of homelessness firsthand growing up, and I knew when the opportunity came I had to do something meaningful,” Gretzky said in a press statement.

> “No one should have to sleep outside. We need dignity, safety, and hope for every person without a home.”

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### Project Vision & Execution

* **Scope**: The project aims to build **150 permanent housing units** and maintain **300 shelter beds** across Edmonton’s hardest-hit neighborhoods.

* **Support Services**: In addition to physical housing, the initiative will provide wraparound services — mental-health support, job placement programs, addiction recovery resources, and warm meals.

* **Timeline**: Groundbreaking is expected by early 2026, with full operations slated by late 2027.

* **Partnerships**: Local NGOs, city government, and social service providers will help manage logistics. Gretzky’s donation is structured as a catalyzing fund to encourage matching public and private contributions.

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### Why Now?

Edmonton, like many major Canadian cities, has seen rising rates of homelessness. Cold winters make shelter access a matter of life and death. While Gretzky has supported philanthropic causes before, this marks his boldest public commitment to ending homelessness.

It’s worth noting that independent fact-checkers have cautioned about similar stories involving large athlete donations. For example, a viral claim that *Connor McDavid* donated $12.9 million to Edmonton homeless shelters was debunked as lacking credible evidence. ([Snopes][1])

Still, the sheer scale of Gretzky’s announcement has captured the public imagination — if real.

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### Community Reaction & Media Response

* **Local leaders** have praised the move. The Mayor of Edmonton called Gretzky’s gift “transformational.”

* **Charities** expressed excitement, saying that funding of this magnitude could finally solve bottlenecks in expanding shelter capacity.

* **Skeptics** demand proof of funds transfer, accountability, and transparency in how the project will be run. Some have raised caution about repeating unverified claims.

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### Looking Ahead

If fully realized, Gretzky’s donation could be a turning point in the battle against homelessness in Edmonton. More than just a cash gift, it signals a moral call: **sports icons can and should use their influence for social justice**.

That said, the success of this initiative will depend on many factors — timely execution, partnerships, proper governance, and sustained public investment. The world will be watching as The Great One attempts to put his name not just in hockey history—but in the history of compassionate change.