Monsters present Season of Giving together with Physicians Ambulance
Nov 12, 2024The Cleveland Monsters are proud to announce the team’s annual Season of Giving will begin on Wednesday, November 13, at First Responders Night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse with both events presented by Physicians Ambulance.
The Monsters will welcome the Toronto Marlies on Wednesday for a night full of recognitions for first responders. Starting before the 7:00 p.m. puck drop, a special charity game will take place between the Cleveland Firefighters and Police hockey teams. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the families of Cleveland Police Officer Jamieson Ritter and Euclid Police Officer Jacob Derbin who were both killed in the line of duty. Both officer’s families will drop the puck for the charity game and rejoin the Monsters later in the night for an additional moment of appreciation.
The Monsters will also recognize Physicians Ambulance employees Caleb Botkin and Thomas Schuerger during a VIP puck drop. Botkin and Schuerger were selected as they both embody the highest standards of emergency care, showcasing dedication, skill, and a commitment to patient outcomes that truly makes a difference. The big American flag presented on the ice will be held by members of the Parma Firefighters Association and first responders from the Monsters Hockey Club will take a ride on the Modelo Fan Cruiser.
Additionally, Wednesday’s game will serve as a kick off to the Season of Giving with several local organizations spotlighted on the concourse. The group includes The Caring, The City Mission, CSL Plasma, Cuyahoga County Veterans Service Commission, Division of Children and Family Services, The Littlest Heroes and Operation KidWatch. After Wednesday, the Season of Giving will continue to run into December impacting numerous families and organizations across Northeast Ohio during the holiday season.
The Monsters and Physicians Ambulance will offer several opportunities for the fans to join the Season of Giving beginning when the Monsters annual Toy Drive returns on Saturday, November 23. Fans are encouraged to bring new, unwrapped toys to the Monsters home games through Saturday, December 7, to be redistributed to children in need across Northeast Ohio. If fans are not able to attend but still would like to donate toys, an Amazon Wishlist is available here. Additionally, Monsters Hockey Club members will join members of the front office at the Greater Cleveland Food Bank for a special volunteer session.
The Monsters players, Better Halves and front office staff will also volunteer at several organizations and events throughout the Season of Giving benefitting Coats for Kids, Good Knights of Lorain County, Natividad Pagan International Newcomers Academy and University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children.
Players will join the children in the UH Rainbow Babies & Chlidren’s Hospital in November for a design session ahead of the team’s specialty jersey night benefitting the hospital on Saturday, March 1, where the artwork from the session will be displayed on the ice. The team will return to the hospital in December to deliver gifts and spread holiday cheer.
Additionally, a special highlight of Season of Giving will be when the Monsters organization and Physicians Ambulance join together to adopt families from the Cleveland area to provide holiday gifts and cheer.
The fan-favorite Teddy Bear Toss presented by NOPEC will round out the Season of Giving on Sunday, December 22, when the Rochester Americans visit Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Fans are asked to being a new, unwrapped stuffed animal to toss onto the ice following the first Monsters goal of the night which will then be donated back to local organizations. The team set a new record collecting 16,112 stuffed animals last year and are looking to break it once again with special help from Kent State University, Greater Cleveland Regional Transit and CBz Buddies. Stuffed animals collected will be donated to local charities, including CBz Buddies who have been providing emotional support to children involved in traumatic situations since 2018. The mission of the organization is to provide support and comfort to children that are affected by trauma, the opioid crisis, accidents, domestic violence, or impoverished situations.
Stay up to date on all Monsters news with the Monsters Mobile App presented by University Hospitals available to download at the Apple Store or Google Play Store. Be sure to follow the Monsters on X, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.