DALLAS, Dec. 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Teddy Bear Party, a 501 (c) 3, founded by Jason Hanna and Joe Riggs, celebrated its 4th annual Christmas party on 12-13-14. With over 625 attendees, Teddy Bear Party donated 710 teddy bears to Children's Health in Dallas and $21,000 to their beneficiaries, Family Equality Council, Equality Texas, and Stand Up 2 Cancer. On Sunday morning after the event, a group of approximately 50 attendees gathered back at the venue to load all the teddy bears. From there, they caravanned to Children's where a hospital administrator welcomed and graciously thanked the group for all their fundraising efforts.
Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141219/165544
Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141219/165545
Children's hospital administrator explained they have treated over 786,000 children with over 29,000 surgeries in 2014 alone. Over the last several months, they have seen between 500-600 children per day through the ER. Every child receives a teddy bear as a means of support and comfort throughout their stay and the bear ultimately goes home with the child. The nurses and doctors use the bears to demonstrate to each child what will happen for their particular treatment. For example, if a child broke their arm and requires a cast, the bear will also receive a cast.
"It truly is heartwarming for all of us to be able to personally deliver the teddy bears to Children's, knowing these little bears will go directly into the arms of children that will be holding and loving them throughout whatever treatment or illness they are facing," commented Jason Hanna. "I want to thank all of our hosts and corporate sponsors that enable us to put on the event year after year."
The monetary donations are split between Family Equality Council, Equality Texas, and Stand Up 2 Cancer. FEC and EQTX continue to fight to ensure LGBT communities and families are treated and represented equally and SU2C sets out to generate awareness, educate the public on cancer prevention and help more people diagnosed with cancer become long-term survivors and we thank you as well.
The Teddy Bear Party started in 2009 as a small Christmas house party of seventy-five friends in which we could all get together, have a few cocktails, laughs, and spread the holiday cheer. The annual event originated as a tree trimming party for the first year but transformed into a toy drive for Toys for Tots the following year. Going into the third year, Jason Hanna's mom was diagnosed with cancer in November 2011. In honor of the battle she was just beginning, the event took a different path and was dedicated to Kaye Hanna and a cause she held dear to her heart, children fighting disease. The third annual Christmas party was a teddy bear drive which benefitted children in the hospital fighting a wide array of diseases and sicknesses. With over 250 guests and approximately 275 teddy bears, our community once again came together to pay it forward. Kaye lost her short but courageous battle after only four months but her legacy and spirit lives on. In Memory of all of our loved ones we have lost due to this disease, The Teddy Bear Party expanded its list of beneficiaries to include not only Children's Health but also Stand Up 2 Cancer, Family Equality Council, and Equality Texas. These organizations were selected as they all have significant meaning to Kaye: Children, Family, and Fighting a disease which has impacted us all. With over 450 attendees last year, we came together and donated over 500 teddy bears and $13,000 split between the beneficiaries.
Host Committee: Jason Hanna, Joe Riggs, Mike Richardson, Julio Gonzalez, Steve Rahhal, Gary McDonald, Bryan Carr, Mark LeDoux, Mark Clay, Kim Landry, Jarrod Freeman, and Scott Barretto.
Thank you to The Bascom Group, the 2014 Presenting Sponsor, for the continued support over the years.
Sponsors: Ben E Keith, Bud Light, One Bar USA, Willa Vodka, Park Place Jaguar, Ophelia's New Soul, Lux Tanning Spa, W Dallas – Victory, Lyft
If you'd like to schedule an interview with one of the hosts, please call Jason Hanna (818-216-5096) or via e-mail at jhanna@bascomgroup.com.
Contact: Jason Hanna
Tel: 818.216.5096
Email