Annual teddy bear toss supports community growth and support around the holidays
Bridgewater, N.J. (February 14, 2024) – JAG Physical Therapy, one of the fastest growing comprehensive physical and occupational therapy practices providing rehabilitative care to patients and sports teams in over 145 locations across the Northeast, held their annual teddy bear toss in December of 2023 in collaboration with Princeton Athletics. JAG Physical Therapy and Princeton Athletics donated over 1,000 teddy bears to benefit the children in Greater Somerset County YMCA child care programs.
The teddy bear toss is a well-known holiday season promotion, frequently seen at hockey and basketball games, where fans are encouraged to toss stuffed toys onto the court or rink following their team's first goal of the game. Similar to previous years, JAG Physical Therapy and Princeton Athletics selected Greater Somerset County YMCA as their recipient because of the organization’s mission to strengthen the community by inspiring youth, empowering health, and uplifting neighbors. JAG Physical Therapy aims to support the YMCA in its goals of creating a better tomorrow and building a brighter future for all.
“At JAG Physical Therapy, we are proud to support the Somerset County YMCA and their commitment to improving and enriching the lives of the individuals and children they serve,” says John Gallucci Jr., CEO of JAG Physical Therapy. “Each year, we eagerly anticipate collaborating with Princeton Athletics and the Somerset County YMCA for this event, aiming to inspire the spirit of generosity during the holiday season.”
This year's teddy bear toss reached new heights, with the collective efforts of JAG Physical Therapy, Princeton Athletics, and the community resulting in the donation of more than 1,000 stuffed animals across the four events: Men’s/Women’s Basketball and Hockey. Notably, this surpassed the previous year's total, doubling the impact and marking the largest amount collected since the promotion began in 2021.
“On behalf of the children, we thank JAG Physical Therapy and Princeton Athletics for the kind donation of stuffed animals,” said Meg Laska, Associate VP of Mission Advancement. “At Greater Somerset County YMCA, we are so grateful for our community partners who support our ability to help vulnerable neighbors through vital programs and services like our childcare programs. The value of this donation can only be measured by the smiles on the children’s faces.”
Of special mention is Desmond Sullivan, an 8th-grade student from the Princeton Montessori School, who embraced this promotion as part of a class project. Collaborating with the Princeton Athletics team, Desmond played a pivotal role in encouraging hundreds of donations. His dedication was further highlighted as he served as the honorary captain at the Women’s Hockey game on the night of their Teddy Bear toss.
This collaboration further exemplifies JAG Physical Therapy’s commitment to supporting their local communities beyond their physical therapy facilities.
About JAG Physical Therapy
JAG Physical Therapy is one of the fastest growing comprehensive physical and occupational therapy practices providing rehabilitative care to patients and sports teams in over 140 locations throughout New York City’s five boroughs, as well as in New Jersey, Westchester, Rockland, Long Island, and Pennsylvania. JAG Physical Therapy specializes in general orthopedic, sports and soft tissue injuries with a personalized treatment plan for each patient. JAG Physical Therapy is the official provider of physical therapy for sports teams such as the New Jersey Devils, Columbia University Athletics, and Princeton University Athletics. For more information on JAG Physical Therapy, visit jagpt.com and find JAG on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.