32 GoodLifeFamilyMag.com NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2017 GoodLifeFamilyMag.com NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2017 33 Playing professional sports takes extreme dedication. For- mer Dallas Stars goalie, Marty Turco, has been described as “the smartest goalie in the National Hockey League,” but his dedication to hockey is nothing compared to his devotion to his amazing family and to the city that embraced him. Growing up in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, Canada, it’s no sur- prise that Marty began playing hockey at an early age. It was there in high school that he met his wife Kelly, and the couple married in 2000. They are now the proud parents of three children: Hailey, age 15; Katelyn, age 13; and Finley, age 9. Kelly followed Marty from Canada to the University of Mich- igan, where both majored in education, and ultimately to Dal- las when Marty joined the Stars. While playing in Michigan, Marty began what has become a lifelong commitment to giving back to his community. When he was in college, the team would visit the local children’s hospital and help kids who weren’t able to attend the games. “I did it because I knew it was the right thing to do,” Marty says, “but I don’t think I appreciated the magnitude of what it meant back then.” He and Kelly have been leaving their mark around Dallas and sharing with their children the value of philanthropy ever since. “We’re just trying to make a difference...Why not take the opportunity to make your world and community better?” Marty asks. One big passion is the NHL Stick with Reading program that has reached over 40,000 students in the metro- plex since its inception. As a spokesperson, Marty has visited schools across DFW encouraging children to meet reading goals, and he especially loves the letters from teachers telling how young boys are reading more with the encouragement of positive male role models. Marty’s professional career allows him to make his mark these days, too. As Director of Corporate Development for the Dallas Stars, he gets to share his love for his team in pro- curing new sponsorships and by serving as a team ambassa- “We’rejusttryingtomakea difference...Whynottakethe opportunitytomakeyourworldand communitybetter?” - Marty Turco Marty continues to work with the Dallas Stars as Director of Corporate Development and is president of the C5 Youth Foundation of Texas which allows him and Kelly to share their passion for helping local youth. “Now they’re at the age where they’re bringing us opportunities (to volunteer),”says Kelly Turco of children Hailey, 15; Katelyn, 13; and Finley, 9, pictured with Marty at their home in Dallas. Photography by Elle Parks By AliciaWanek