Heading to a live event anywhere is something that I’ll always appreciate. Over the years I’ve been to many great games and concerts that leave you with that feeling of I can’t wait to go again. I’ve been to playoff games and regular season games. Large stadiums for outdoor live music and small venues where the entire inside is just elbow to elbow people. I’ve been to many bobblehead games at Progressive Field and enjoy those giveaways but one special promotion that’s my favorite isn’t even a giveaway at all. In fact it’s the opposite. It’s the Teddy Bear Toss game put on annually by our very own Cleveland Monsters Hockey team. You bring your donations of various types of stuffed animals of all shapes and sizes and when the Monsters score their 1st goal, well then it’s on!
Animals are being thrown by the fans everywhere towards or on the ice to be collected by the players and arena staff to go towards local children in need as holiday gifts. What a joy it was to see so many fans participating and just having fun all for a good cause. There were so many people dressed up not only in Christmas apparel but costumes to where I even went and took a selfie with The Grinch himself. He turned out to be a great guy. I can’t tell you the countless times I’ve walked back to the car after another Cleveland sports team loss but this wasn’t one of them. It’s the one game I go to now for the 3rd time where a win or loss doesn’t matter. The only numbers on the scoreboard this day that are important are the donations totals at the end. I’m proud to say we the fans broke the team record by donating 12,476 stuffed animals for their charity!
Going to Cleveland in December and just walking around with so much to see will always be beautiful this time of year. Knowing that even one child that doesn’t have the blessings my children have will have their day made by hugging one of those animals is the real winner! Keep this event in mind for next season as you make your way to Believeland, Ohio.
Happy Holidays,
James Ellifritz
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