For the first time in the event’s 21-year history, the Hershey Bears were unable to score a goal in the team’s annual Teddy Bear Toss game on Sunday. It was probably going to happen sooner or later, but regardless, that’s not what the event is about.
As part of the club’s Hershey Bears Cares initiative, teddy bears and stuffed animals are collected and donated to more than 35 local organizations, including Dauphin County Children and Youth, Cocoa Packs, Boys & Girls Club of Harrisburg, Palmyra Lions Club, and Autism Society Greater Harrisburg Area.
The Bears once again established a new world record, collecting 67,309 teddy bears and stuffed animals during Sunday’s Teddy Bear Toss, surpassing the club’s previous world record of 52,341 collected in 2022. On top of that, since the Bears once again broke the Teddy Bear Toss world record, the Sweigart Family Foundation will make a $50,000 donation to Children’s Miracle Network.
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With no goals scored, the commencement of the toss was finally made by the fans themselves, with about five seconds remaining in regulation. NoVa Caps photojournalist Joe Noyes was on hand once again this year to capture a few of the images from the event.
What a great tradition.
I’m taking notice of which Bears came back out for the cleanup, and which ones didn’t. Obviously a couple never went in the locker room – props to those guys.
Great photos, thanks for your coverage!