MINNEAPOLIS — You probably know T.C. Bear from the ballpark, where the cheerful bear and his “Animal Control” handlers dedicate themselves to making every Twins game a little merrier. But T.C.’s dedication to bringing smiles stretches far beyond three hours a day, 81 times a year at Target Field.
As part of the Twins organization’s outreach to the community this holiday season, T.C. delivered meal kits to area families in need this week.
After a shopping trip to — of course — Cub Foods, T.C. led surprise deliveries to five area families in advance of the Thanksgiving holiday. It’s the lead-in to an additional round of holiday outreach that the club will undertake over the next month, and of course part of the team’s broader efforts to reach out to the Twin Cities community.
“The Twins and T.C. Bear are proud to partner with Cub Foods to ensure families can come together for a warm, comforting meal this Thanksgiving,” said Twins senior vice president, community engagement Nancy O’Brien. “The holidays are meant to be a time for sharing gifts and spreading joy, and these meal kits — paired with smiles and bear hugs — are one way we play our part in that.”
It’s that kind of commitment that has marked T.C.’s community commitment, garnering an award for the beloved bear. T.C. has earned the 2025 Community Impact Award among MLB mascots.
Every year, the mascots of Major League Baseball vote for leaders in five peer-selected categories: Leadership Award, Video of the Year, Most Viral Moment, Community Impact and MLB Mascot of the Year. The MLB Mascot Community Impact Award honors the mascot who makes the most meaningful and positive difference in their community throughout the calendar year, and this year, T.C. is the winner.
The award stems largely from T.C.’s Strikeout Plan. The program takes a novel approach to helping area kids: teaching them how to care for their own mental well-being, while also learning to recognize signs when their friends or classmates may need support.
According to the club, the program is centered on three simple, memorable steps: Notice It, Name It and Share It. The program expanded dramatically in 2025, reaching more students, teachers, and families than ever before.
“This award exemplifies how important giving back is to us as an entire organization, from our executives to our staff, our players, our coaches and our mascot,” O’Brien said. “We strive to use all of our platforms for the betterment of the communities we call home. T.C. is a friendly, trusted face across Twins Territory and an important part of that path and process. This year was particularly special, with the creation and implementation of the T.C.’s Strikeout Plan youth mental health initiative in partnership with Thomson Reuters. We truly believe we have the best mascot in MLB, for his combination of entertaining fans and community commitment.”
