GSW partners with Phoebe for 3rd annual Teddy Bear Toss

AMERICUS, Ga. (WALB) - At most games, fans are prohibited from tossing items on to the court. Tonight, in Americus that wasn’t the case. Fans were encouraged to toss things from the stands, in the 3rd annual teddy bear toss at Georgia Southwestern University.

The event is in partnership with phoebe to gather donation for the women’s and children’s health services. The toss happens when the Canes men’s basketball team scores their first basket of the game. Fans flood the court with stuffed animals, an idea brought to GSW by Associate Athletic Director Nicki Levering.

Levering said, “This year we want to have 2,000 bears donated. Last year we had a little over 1,700, and our first year just a little over 1,200. So, it’s really grown over the last three years and we’re super proud of the event.”

“GSW, the friends and family and all the people that bring their bears tonight, we at Phoebe Putney women’s and children’s hospital and all the surrounding children’s programs can be recipients of these bears, and they’re bears to share and show bears that care,” added Phoebe Director Angie Barber.

GSW fans got a few extra teddy bears. Sponsors like Coca-Cola, Chick-fil-A and others donated additional teddy’s for the toss in hopes to help reach the 2000 mark this year.

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