Blackhawks’ Bryan Bickell to celebrate pit bulls at Pita Pit

Pita Pit helps a Chicago Blackhawk give back to the community.

SPONSOREDUpdated 6:18PM • 03/16/16

He’s a tough guy on the ice, but the Chicago Blackhawks’ Bryan Bickell has a soft spot in his everyday life — pit bulls. And now the hockey star is teaming up with Pita Pit to help spread the word about how these pups can help others.

Bickell and his wife, Amanda, know pit bulls aren’t as scary as some people say they are. That’s why, in 2013, they started the Bryan and Amanda Bickell Foundation, which works to eliminate negative stereotypes people have about the breed by providing a number of public services, including reaching out to children who are victims of abuse.

From the foundation’s official website:

“By working with ‘pit bulls’ who are rescued or adopted and have overcome abuse or bullying, we then focus on promoting the human-animal bond by bringing certified therapy "pit bulls" together with children who are victims of abuse through our Paws for Strength program.”

Bryan sat down with FOX 32 News to discuss the foundation.

“There are so many dogs that need help, and we’re just helping one dog at a time,” he said.

Bickell always loved Pita Pit and says he has been eating there ever since the first one opened in his hometown of Ontario, Canada. This Sunday, the Bickells will be hosting a fundraiser for the foundation at the Lincoln Park location from 2 to 5 p.m.

To see the original segment from Fox 32 News, click here.