Hershey Bears to Host 23rd GIANT Teddy Bear Toss on Jan. 5
The Hershey Bears are ringing in the New Year with the heartwarming event that sees thousands upon thousands of teddy bears and stuffed animals flying through the air in an incredible act of generosity and charity. It will be Sweet Cuddly Mayhem as furry and fuzzy stuffies of all kinds will be raining down onto the ice at GIANT Center this Sunday, January 5 to benefit local charities and children in need.
Teddy Bear Tosses are well-known promotional events for minor league hockey teams, but there is no Teddy Bear Toss like the Hershey Bears’ GIANT Teddy Bear Toss, set to take place this Sunday afternoon as the Bears host the Providence Bruins with a 3 p.m. ET puck drop.
The Bears are the hockey WORLD RECORD holders for the Teddy Bear Toss, collecting 74,599 stuffed animals at last year's event in a site that truly must be seen.
As part of the club's Hershey Bears Cares initiative, which showcases the philanthropic activities and volunteer efforts of Bears players and staff members throughout the community, teddy bears and stuffed animals are collected and donated to more than 35 local and regional organizations, including Schreiber Pediatric, Vista Autism Services, Middletown School District, Gigi’s Playhouse Lancaster, Central PA Food Bank, Off the Streets, Palmyra Lions Club, Milton and Catherine Hershey Schools, and Autism Society Greater Harrisburg Area. Additionally, the Sweigart Family Foundation has pledged to donate a sum to the Children's Miracle Network which will match the number of stuffed animals thrown on the ice.
Hershey's annual GIANT Teddy Bear Toss has collected 464,107 teddy bears since its inception in 2001.
Limited tickets are available online via Ticketmaster for Sunday’s GIANT Teddy Bear Toss.
This is a can’t-miss event, and for everything you need to know about a game that’s filled with cuddly chaos, click the button below for our helpful FAQ.
Fans are encouraged to follow along on Hershey Bears' social media channels with hashtag #TeddyBearTossHershey and #HersheyBearsCares.
For 87 years, our Hershey Bears hockey club has been thrilling fans on the ice. Off the ice, this storied American Hockey League team has prioritized giving back to the community and connecting with fans. Since 2018, the Hershey Bears Cares charitable initiative has been the platform to highlight the organization’s community outreach and engagement. In a typical season, our players, coaches and staff members participate in dozens of meaningful events and appearances. It is a way for the team to thank the best fans in the league and give back to the community.