Annual Teddy Bear Toss Returns to Acrisure Arena, Delivering Hope to Children in Crisis

The excitement is building at Acrisure Arena as the community prepares for next week’s fourth annual Teddy Bear Toss—an event that has become a cherished holiday tradition in the Coachella Valley. Fans attending the game will bring stuffed animals and, at a designated moment, toss them onto the ice, creating a heartwarming scene of hundreds of teddy bears covering the rink.

But the journey for these stuffed toys doesn’t end there.

Once the toys are gathered from the ice, they are passed on to first responders across the Coachella Valley. These first responders later distribute the teddy bears to children who have endured traumatic or distressing situations. Organizers say the mission behind the event is to offer comfort, reassurance, and a sense of hope during some of the most difficult moments a child may face.

“Calls for service involving children are clearly the most difficult situations we have to be involved in,” said Dean Agnoletto, who now works with Acrisure after spending more than three decades with the Sheriff’s Department. Agnoletto recalled an emotional moment from his career as a homicide detective, when he spent hours comforting a surviving five-year-old child. “I was able to give her a teddy bear. You can see a change in their demeanor when we offer them a teddy bear. A lot of them embrace it immediately.”

The event’s reach goes beyond first responders. Kate Spates, executive director of the One Valley Foundation, says the collected stuffed animals are also shared with regional nonprofits to distribute throughout the holiday season. “They have thousands of families they work with,” Spades explained. “These teddy bears help more children than fans might realize.”

With the event just days away, organizers are focusing on gathering as many toys as possible. They note that the generosity of fans has been pivotal in providing comfort to children across the Coachella Valley.

The Teddy Bear Toss returns next Friday at Acrisure Arena, inviting the community to come together for a night of excitement while giving back to children in need.