Condors News
Condors Collect 7,026 Stuffed Animals in Annual Teddy Bear Toss
Nov 26, 2007

Condors Collect 7,026 Stuffed Animals in Annual Teddy Bear Toss

Second Largest Crowd in Condors History Took Part in The Annual Spectacle

Bakersfield, Calif. - Immediately following Tim Konsorada's goal at 6:40 in the first period Saturday, he and the Bakersfield Condors were overcome with a warm, fuzzy feeling as 7,026 stuffed animals rained down upon the ice at the 9th Annual Teddy Bear Toss sponsored by KGET TV-17, KERN 1410 AM and Wells Fargo Bank.

A sellout standing room only crowd of 8,895, the second-largest in team history, eagerly flung the fluffy animals down upon the ice after the goal. For the next 14 minutes, volunteers from the United Way and the Ice Sports Center Youth Hockey League bagged the 7,026 bears for their distribution to different local organizations to be given to less fortunate children during the holidays. The Condors nine-year total is now over 44,800 collected stuffed animals.

Dozens of organizations throughout Kern County, from Taft to Wasco to Bakersfield will benefit from the event, which has achieved an unparalleled level of success. The Teddy Bear Toss over the last three years has drawn three of the five largest crowds in Condors history.

"This is what it means to be in Condorstown," exclaimed Condors President Matthew Riley as he ducked to avoid getting hit by a wave of stuffed animals. "The efforts and desire of our community to help out less-fortunate children is unbelievable."

"Plenty of bears and a great turn out," said United Way's marketing and special events coordinator Rachel Frasnelly. "Thanks to everyone that helped; the agencies, fans and of course the Condors."

After road trips to Las Vegas and Fresno the Condors will be back in The Nest Saturday, Dec. 1, for a game against the Fresno Falcons. Saturday is the ABC23 and 106.1 KRAB Goalie Mask Giveaway, with the first 2,000 children 12-and-under receiving a foam Condors goalie mask. Friday is also Pearsey's Rentals Plasma TV Giveaway, when two lucky fans will take home 42-inch screen plasma TV's. Fans must be 18 or older to qualify for the TV giveaway.

Individual game tickets are now on sale and may be purchased through the Rabobank Arena Box Office, which is open from 10am - 6pm Monday through Friday and 10am - 4pm on Saturday with extended hours on game days. Tickets may also be purchased by phone through at 322-2525, online at www.bakersfieldcondors.com, or at any Ticketmaster location

Season tickets, mini-plans and group outings are available at the Condors office located at 1001 Truxtun Avenue or by calling at 324-PUCK (7825).