Our Cause

Helping Children With Dyslexia Is Our Mission

Student recipient with Brent Sopel

It is estimated that 1 in 5 people have Dyslexia.
Over 40 million people in the US alone have dyslexia. Only around 2 million of them have been diagnosed.

What is Dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a language-based learning disability which causes extreme difficulty for students learning to read, write and spell, regardless of their IQ.

What is the impact of untreated Dyslexia?
The absence of appropriate educational support to overcome dyslexia often negatively impacts a student’s school and ultimately career success, as well as self-esteem.

What do children with Dyslexia need?
With early detection and diagnosis, children with dyslexia can receive appropriate interventions which will enable them to become successful readers and writers. These interventions require teachers with special training and materials created specifically for those with dyslexia.

How We Help
We provide financial resources for educational institutions that do not have funding to help students with dyslexia. These resources are used for specialized training and educational materials for instructors who teach these students.

“ Hi. I’m Brent Sopel, and I until recently I did not realize I had dyslexia. My discovery occurred when my daughter was diagnosed.

During my childhood I never received appropriate instructions which prevented me from learning at the same pace as my peers. Because I struggled in school, I focused all my efforts on hockey. I was fortunate to become a professional hockey player for many years and won the 2010 Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks. However, my dyslexic challenges caused personal and family heartache throughout my career and challenges that I continue to deal with today.

You can read my story in the Players Tribune, “Lost in My Mind.” After reading my story, you will understand why I founded the Brent Sopel Foundation to help children with dyslexia.

By participation in the 2022 Chicago Pro-Am you will help in provide educational support for children struggling with dyslexia, and make difference in their lives.
Thank you for your support.”