On Saturday, December 9, the Evansville Thunderbolts, a hockey team from Indiana, went above and beyond to make the holiday season brighter for children in need. The annual Teddy Bear Toss Night turned out to be a remarkable success, with an impressive 2,281 stuffed animals collected. However, the real magic happened when they discovered an unexpected addition to the pile—a small stuffed animal with a touching note from a child named Remi.

 The Evansville Rescue Mission, Easterseals, Chloe Randolph Foundation & Youth First

EVANSVILLE THUNDERBOLTS TEDDY BEAR TOSS DELIVERIES
EVANSVILLE THUNDERBOLTS TEDDY BEAR TOSS DELIVERIES
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Evansville Thunderbolts' Teddy Bear Toss Delivers 2,281 Smiles to Tri-State Kids

The Evansville Thunderbolts organized their annual Teddy Bear Toss Night, bringing together fans and supporters for a heartwarming cause. The result? An incredible 2,281 stuffed animals were collected in support of Tri-State groups and organizations, ensuring that children in need experience the joy of the holiday season.

EVANSVILLE THUNDERBOLTS TEDDY BEAR TOSS Captain Fluffy
EVANSVILLE THUNDERBOLTS TEDDY BEAR TOSS Captain Fluffy
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One Extra Special Addition: Captain Fluffy Finds New Home in Owensboro

Among the sea of stuffed animals, the Thunderbolts stumbled upon a small treasure—a stuffed dog named Captain Fluffy with a note from Remi, a child who had loved it for seven years. The team decided to keep Captain Fluffy until they found the perfect owner. During the final home game before Christmas, Lorelei from Owensboro became the proud new owner, adding an extra layer of warmth to this already heartwarming tale.

EVANSVILLE THUNDERBOLTS TEDDY BEAR TOSS LETTER
EVANSVILLE THUNDERBOLTS TEDDY BEAR TOSS LETTER
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A Child's Gift: Lorelei of Owensboro Adopts Captain Fluffy with Love

EVANSVILLE THUNDERBOLTS TEDDY BEAR TOSS Lorelie
EVANSVILLE THUNDERBOLTS TEDDY BEAR TOSS Lorelie
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Lorelei became the recipient of a unique and heartfelt gift during the Evansville Thunderbolts' Teddy Bear Toss Night. The team shared the story of Captain Fluffy, revealing the attached note from Remi, and asked Lorelie to be the new caretaker of this special dog. The result? Captain Fluffy is now in the loving hands of Lorelei, just in time for a magical Christmas.

Watch the Teddy Bear Toss video below:

The Evansville Thunderbolts not only scored on the ice but also won the hearts of their community through the Teddy Bear Toss Night. The unexpected discovery of Captain Fluffy and its heartwarming journey to a new home in Owensboro exemplifies the true spirit of the holiday season—a time for giving, sharing, and creating lasting memories.

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LOOK: The top holiday toys from the year you were born

With the holiday spirit in the air, it’s the perfect time to dive into the history of iconic holiday gifts. Using national toy archives and data curated by The Strong from 1920 to today, Stacker searched for products that caught hold of the public zeitgeist through novelty, innovation, kitsch, quirk, or simply great timing, and then rocketed to success.

Gallery Credit: Jacob Osborn & Peter Richman

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