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After Chicago jeered black Caps player, local ice rink flooded with donations

A cold reception for a Washington Capitals player in Chicago has been turned into warm generosity for a local nonprofit.

A cold reception for a Washington Capitals player in Chicago has been turned into warm generosity for a local nonprofit.

"Every not for profit is on thin ice," said Ty Newberry. He manages the Fort Dupont Ice Rink's youth programs. In Southeast, D.C., it's where 2,500 boys and girls swap the streets for skates.

In just over a day, the charity has received more than $23,000 in donations.

Last week, Chicago Blackhawks fans jeered at Washington Capitals player Devante Smith-Pelly. Their hateful chant-- that he should return to basketball. A Chicago Tribune columnist told the city it had to make good by sending money to Fort Dupont Ice Rink.

RELATED: Blackhawks fans offer support for Capitals forward after racially-charged incident

"As great as it is, I wish this stuff never existed and we wouldn't have to be here doing this for this reason," said Newberry. "But it's great that so many more people have stepped up and once again proven that the world is full of more good people than it is bad."

Donations are coming in from as far away as California. Many are from Chicago, where donors have added notes apologizing.

Seventh-grader Lawrent Chinhakwe sees the silver lining in this. He hopes to see gold one day as an Olympic skater.

"It's just so good and awesome that people can grow from these programs and go to the top," said Chinhakwe.

Now, the 40-year-old rink is bound for some fixes.

"Absolutely we need it," said Newberry. "A lot of kids are going to benefit from it."

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