CHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings Teddy Bear Toss Scheduled for Saturday

Published on December 3, 2007 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


Southaven, MS --- The RiverKings are excited to once again host the Teddy Bear Toss. The toss will take place on Saturday, December 8 when the RiverKings face off against the Youngstown Steelhounds at 7:05pm at the DeSoto Civic Center. After the first RiverKings goal Saturday, fans will be asked to toss stuffed animals onto the ice benefitting three wonderful local charities: North Mississippi Sexual Assault Resource Center, Shelby County Metro Fraternal Order of Police, and DeSoto County Fraternal Order of Police.

"We are excited to host the Teddy Bear Toss again this season," Dave Mattice, RiverKings Director of Business Operations, said. "This event has been successful in the past because of our fans' willingness to help area organizations."

One of these organizations is the North Mississippi Sexual Assault Resource Center's Gifts from the Heart program. Gifts from the Heart has partnered with the RiverKings for four years now.

"Without the RiverKings, the Gifts from the Heart program would not have advanced to where it is," Debbie Houck, Director of the North Mississippi Sexual Assault Resource Center, said. "It is a fact that the RiverKings partnership has helped launch this program to be able to assist 900 kids the past couple of years."

Gifts from the Heart is a giving tree program. Donors select a child to assist by purchasing wants and/or needs for these children, making their Christmas a little brighter this season. The 900 children that this program supports are all located within DeSoto County.

"Unfortunately, the North Mississippi Sexual Assault Resource Center is solely the Gifts from the Heart program right now," Houck explained. "Our goal for this coming year is to have a site for victims to come to for help and information."

The Gifts from the Heart program will have their concourse table setup at the RiverKings games again this Friday and Saturday night. Fans can still select children to purchase for, or donate money for the program to purchase items for the children not sponsored.

"On Saturday, we will be selling teddy bears at our table as well," Houck commented. "Fans can purchase the teddies to help the Gifts from the Heart program, and have them to toss onto the ice after the first goal."

Gifts for the program will be collected at the RiverKings office until the 15th of December, or can be dropped off at 1935 Stateline Road on the 15th between 11 am and 2pm. For more information on the program please contact Debbie Houck at 901.299.5106 or via email at nmsarc@msn.com.

Along with the North Mississippi Sexual Assault Resource Center, both the Shelby County Metro Fraternal Order of Police and the DeSoto County Fraternal Order of police will receive stuffed animal donations from the toss.

"We started donating toys to Methodist North Hospital and Le Bonheur Children's Medical Hospital eight years ago," said Marc Lowe Sr., Second Vice-President of the Shelby County Metro Fraternal Order of Police. "To give a child something as small as a toy that can make their pain stop for at least a moment is a wonderful thing."

Currently Shelby County Metro Fraternal Order of Police provide Methodist Hospital with enough toys to last them a full year; however, they are currently only providing Le Bonheur enough for five months.

"Our goal in partnering with the RiverKings and the DeSoto County chapter is to support Le Bonheur for a full year, as well as begin to support Baptist Memorial Hospital - DeSoto," Lowe explained.

Currently the DeSoto County Sheriff's Department will carry toys in their cars to provide children who have just been in a wreck.

"A lot of people don't realize how much the Fraternal Order of Police do," Deputy Paul Whalen of the DeSoto County Sherrif's Department and the DeSoto County Fraternal Order of Police, said. "Our main function is to help children out."

"Currently the Shelby County Metro Fraternal Order of Police has a Shop With A Cop program, which partners children in need with a local police officer to go shopping. The child receives a set amount of money to spend on choosing their toys for the holiday," Lowe explained. "Additionally we give 10 $750 scholarships to deserving students each year, and we host a barbeque to support Ronald McDonald House."

Both the DeSoto County Fraternal Order of Police and the Shelby County Fraternal Order of Police will be collecting any additional toys fans would like to donate. For further information on the Shelby County Fraternal Order of Police please visit www.sheblycountymetrofoplodge35.com.

For further information on the Teddy Bear Toss please contact the RiverKings office at 662.342.1755.

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