Hershey Bears Cares Community Initiatives, 2023-24 Season

Hershey Bears Cares Community Initiatives, 2023-24 Season

Team Participates in 25+ Community Appearances

The Hershey Bears hockey club continues winning on and off the ice! Throughout the 2023-24 season, the 12-time Calder Cup championship-winning team made over 25 community appearances across the Hershey area. The hockey club has a long-standing tradition of giving back to the community and the best fans in the American Hockey League. Milton S. Hershey founded the team in 1938. Mr. Hershey was an innovator and chocolate magnate, but most of all, he was a philanthropist who put his team members and townspeople first. The Hershey Bears proudly continue that tradition.

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Through the team's Hershey Bears Cares community initiative, the team is known to spend time with families in need, up-and-coming hockey players, sick kids and local students. During the regular season, players frequently visited patients and their families at Penn State Health Children's Hospital - including the neonatal intensive care unit, cooked dinner for residents at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central PA, helped families at the annual Cocoa Packs Presents holiday event, took the Calder Cup trophy to emergency medical personnel at the Life Lion hanger, delivered game tickets to servicemen and women and local police and fire personnel and distributed plush toys from the world-famous GIANT Teddy Bear Toss to Vista School and Catherine Hershey School students. Several players spent a Friday evening skating with three American Special Hockey Association teams, including Hershey Heroes, York Polar Bears and Palmyra Sled Hockey.

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  Nicholas Smeal, left, a patient Penn State Cancer Institute, talks with Garrett Roe, right, and Alex Limges, players with the Hershey Bears, during the Light the Night event held on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023.
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  Michael Magdalinski, left, a patient Penn State Cancer Institute, looks over the Calder Cup with Matt Strome, a player with the Hershey Bears, during the Light the Night event held on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023.
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  Rick Updegrove, a patient at Penn State Cancer Institute, gets a chance to hold and look over the Calder Cup while members of the Hershey Bears visited during the Light the Night event held on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023.
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  Matt Strome, a player with the Hershey Bears, joined his teammates during the Light the Night event held on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023.
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  With his daughter Ashley looking on, center, Steve Erb, a patient at Penn State Cancer Institute, talks with Chase Priskie, a player with the Hershey Bears, during the Light the Night event held on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023.
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  Roy Wolfe, Jr., second from left, a patient at Penn State Cancer Institute, gets a photo taken with the Calder Cup and members of the Hershey Bears hockey team during the Light the Night event held on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023.
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As part of the team's annual Hockey Fights Cancer game, players visited with patients at the Children's Hospital infusion unit. Players and staff members also visited the oncology floor at Penn State Health's Cancer Institute in partnership with the Leukemia Lymphoma Society's Light the Night event. Adult patients got photos with the Calder Cup trophy and enjoyed meeting several of the Bears' players.

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Our organization's Core Purpose is to help fulfill the dream of Mr. Hershey by providing value to Milton Hershey School (MHS) in its mission of helping students lead fulfilling and productive lives. Bears' players and coaches spent time with MHS students throughout this season on several occasions. These engagement opportunities were as meaningful for the team as much as the students and teachers at MHS. On one visit, the entire team toured the campus, enjoyed lunch with the MHS senior division hockey team and practiced at the School's outdoor rink. During a middle-division hockey practice, players offered tips to the young team. Whether it was hosting third-grade students at GIANT Center to learn about hockey-related careers, playing on the School's playground, or enjoying board games and a math challenge, the Bears frequently engaged with MHS elementary students. The players enjoyed the visits as much as the students!

Given the upcoming playoffs, the team's community appearances have concluded for this season. The team enjoyed meeting many community members and looks forward to next season's Hershey Bears Cares events and appearances. Thank you for your unwavering support this season. GO BEARS!