Preview: Fox Sports West feature on PennerCakes event

During the second intermission of tonight's Kings-Coyotes broadcast, Fox Sports West will run a special feature on this week's PennerCakes event at IHOP. The video highlights package includes some quotes from Dustin Penner, thoughts from a few several of the lucky raffle winners who attended, and there's even a small cameo in there from some guy I know. Here's a preview...

Also, fresh up on LAKings.com today is an article about the event by Deborah Lew (link).

Of course, if you somehow have never seen the original letter Penner provided exclusively to MayorsManor, it's posted here.

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Jim Fox using gray area to create mental health awareness

Fox at The Guidance Center event last week

Like the Kings' new jerseys, Jim Fox is a black and white guy.

"I'm usually on one side or the other, little gray area," said Fox. "The thing that intrigues me about wine is there's a lot of gray area. There are so many different elements to learn about, think about and educate yourself about - so, it's tough to make a choice or be black and white with wine."

Perhaps, the same could be said for mental health issues.  And last week, Fox used his extensive knowledge of one to help raise awareness for the other.

Although his work with the youth-focused Guidance Center may not have a direct link to his other passion - hockey - he's able to draw some parallels there too.

"We're seeing mental health issues being discussed now in the NHL," began Fox. "That's always been an interest of mine, the mental part of the game - whether it's the positives or the negatives - and the struggles that everyone has."

Specific to The Guidance Center, Fox has a long standing relationship with the group's Executive Director, Patricia Costales. After years of trying to come up with a way to get more involved, last week's wine tasting event in Long Beach seems to have brought it all together.

The event sold-out well in advance and raised over $26,000.

"Trish works with kids who aren't getting help. They need a place like the Guidance Center to get that help," said Fox.

So, he's not only encouraged by the strong turnout and show of support, but also by a greater openness for society at large to talk about issues they may be facing.

"It's something that I think we're all getting better with. We're starting to talk about mental health issues. It's an illness. It's something that can be treated - sometimes you get better, sometimes you don't. But, you can treat it. Trish and everyone involved at The Guidance Center are a big part of that, trying to get people better."

Just like it takes a team of people at The Guidance Center to make a difference, Fox needed some help from his friends to make the wine tasting event more attractive to potential ticket buyers.