The Texas Stars organization is hoping its on-ice product will help spur donations for its off-ice charitable efforts.

The self-funded Stars Foundation in its second year has $60,000 to disperse, said Michael Delay, assistant vice president of ticket sales and marketing. The organization is in the final steps of reviewing 24 applications from throughout the region, and awards should be granted by the end of August.

"If you're a sports team in a community like this and you're not involved, there's something wrong," Delay said.

The foundation, which serves as the team's community relations arm, places a particular emphasis on funding organizations geared toward children, he said, but past donations have also included $27,000 for the Cedar Park Memorial Veteran's Park and $10,000 for Bastrop fire relief.

The foundation is modeled after a similar organization under the Dallas Stars that Rick McLaughlin, Cedar Park Center general manager and Texas Stars president, started in 1995, he said. McLaughlin said the organization is a way for the Stars to give back to the community, but the foundation can only donate as much as it raises.

"With any starting foundation, there's sort of a learning curve, so it takes longer to get to where we want to be than what we would like in order to make the impact we want to make," McLaughlin said.

The foundation hosts a variety of fundraisers at hockey games, including specialty jersey nights, casino nights, the annual "Pink the Rink" event and "Chuck-a-Puck" promotional events.

The Stars organization also hired foundation Director Kristen Compomizzi, who previously worked at the Pennsylvania March of Dimes chapter. She said she has one added advantage working under the Stars.

"It helps that I'm a fan," she said. "I know hockey, so I know what people are asking for."