WNE conducts annual 'Teddy Bear Toss' to benefit needy children

Dec. 4, 2012

SPRINGFIELD – On a night that the Western New England University basketball teams swept visiting Gordon College – the men winning 68-67 on a lay-up in the waning seconds and the women prevailing 50-26 – in the Commonwealth Coast Conference openers on Nov. 28 at the Alumni Healthful Living Center field house, the Golden Bears Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and Campus Activities Board (CAB) combined for the annual Teddy Bear Toss.

Corey Brown, SAAC Community Service Representative, was the student-coordinator for the event.

"Our student-athletes work diligently year-round to give back to their community. There is an extraordinary sense of giving around the holiday season from our teams and the Teddy Bear Toss is an annual event that brings our community together to help brighten the lives of children in Springfield," CHAMPS Life Skills Coordinator and SAAC advisor Jennifer Kolins said. "CAB's generous donations and collaboration helped us to make this year's event a great success. I am so proud of what SAAC has accomplished this semester and am very impressed with the work ethic and dedication of the organization's executive board."

The CAB donated 120 stuffed bears and provided free Vitamin Water courtesy of ARAMARK Food Services to all participants. Monetary donations and over 250 bears were collected and be distributed to Springfield-area children in need. Fans could either bring their own bears or purchase them at the men's and women's basketball game, and during halftime of each game they tossed them from the stands into a bucket. If they scored, they won a CAVE T-shirt.

"Working with SAAC has been a great experience," Chris Silvia said, who is the homecoming spirit chair for CAB. "I hope we can collaborate annually to give to such a great cause. We look forward to working with SAAC on future events to share our resources and help those in need."

In the past few years, SAAC has donated over 1,000 teddy bears to Springfield children.

Comments From Our Readers: