# Teddy Tossing Charity Drives The Teddy Bear Toss Collected 20,000 Bears for Charity in Calgary By Jonathon Brown | Published 2012-12-16 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/teddy-bear-toss References: [youtu.be](http://youtu.be/bN5iZVxnSr8) & [youtube](http://www.youtube.com/user/z953buzz) This incredible teddy bear toss happened in the CHL at the [Calgary Hitmen’s](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/prime-monday-night-hockey) arena. Approximately 20,000 teddy bears were tossed on the ice after the Hitmen scored a goal. Before you scratch your head too hard, this is a tradition. The original tradition was spawned by Scott Mellanby years ago when he found a rat in the change room and killed it with a slap shot. Fans of the [Florida Panthers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/limited-edition-olive-oil-packaging) started throwing toy rats on the ice after a goal in 1996. The tradition moved on to other NHL arenas before the league imposed a delay of game penalty on the home team whenever fans disrupted the game this way. The tradition took a charitable twist in this case. Every fan attending the game was asked to bring a teddy bear. When the Hitmen scored, all the bears were thrown onto the ice and the [bears were given to charity](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/spark-financial). ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.0/10 - Popularity: 5% | Activity: 16% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Gen Alpha, Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Sports](https://www.trendhunter.com/sports) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Charitable Fundraising:** Opportunity to create unique and engaging fundraising events that involve the community and give back to those in need. - **Crowd Participation:** Potential to create interactive fan experiences that encourage audience engagement and create memorable moments in sports and entertainment events. - **Creative Fan Traditions:** Space for fans to develop unique and creative traditions that enhance the atmosphere and spirit of sports events. ### Who This Affects Most - **Sports and Entertainment:** Innovation opportunities to leverage fan enthusiasm and develop new initiatives that enhance the fan experience through immersive and participatory activities. - **Charitable Organizations:** Scope to collaborate with sports teams and fans to organize fundraising events that generate social impact and support various charitable causes. - **Toy and Teddy Bear Manufacturing:** Possibility to partner with sports teams and utilize their fan events to promote and distribute teddy bears, creating new marketing and branding opportunities for toy manufacturers. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Kindness-Focused Charity Initiatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chevrolet-good-deeds-cup.md) - [Cheesy Basketball Statues](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/2024-nhl-allstar-weekend.md) - [Charitable Holiday Bears](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/holt-renfrew-holiday-bear-2021.md) - [Cancer-Supporting Ping-Pong Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smashfest.md) - [Playful Hockey Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/beard-in-a-box.md) - [Quirky Spoof Collectibles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fight-teeth.md) - [Stuffed Toy Sports Partnerships](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/buildabear-workshop-1.md) - [Seasonal Charitable Chocolatier Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lindt-sprngli.md) - [Gun Violence Prevention Films](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sandy-hook-promise.md)