Since 1999, the Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆcommunity has brought smiles to children’s faces through the gift of donated teddy bears.
It is amazing to see Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆ students, alumni, and members of our community coming together to support this wonderful cause. It makes me very proud to be a Stag!
— 2018 Student Chair and Student Alumni Association Director of Community Service Kathryn Peters ’20
Fairfield’s Office of Alumni Relations and Student Alumni Association are once again hosting the Teddy Bears with Love Drive, and are now accepting stuffed animal donations through Friday, December 7. To celebrate the program’s 20th year, all Stags — students, alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and friends — are encouraged to make this year’s drive the most successful yet, with donations of a new, unused teddy bear or stuffed animal this holiday season. And as a special bonus, community members can receive free entry into the Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆWomen's Basketball game versus Northeastern on December 5 at 7 p.m. with a donation of a stuffed animal or teddy bear at the door. Each bear donated will equate to one free general admission ticket.
Promoting philanthropy after Fairfield, the Office of Alumni Relations and Student Alumni Association founded Teddy Bears with Love in 1999, with the goal to provide children across the country with a “teddy bear hug” during the holiday season. Going into its 20th year, Teddy Bears with Love has collected nearly 21,000 new teddy bears and stuffed animals for children’s charities, all thanks to the generosity of the Stag community. Alumni from across the country have helped in this effort, hosting regional Alumni Association collection events, and holiday drives at their local schools and businesses.
The Teddy Bears with Love Drive team is thankful to have been able to spread joy through many charities across the country including, The Franciscan Children’s Hospital in Boston, Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital, and Hour Children in Manhattan. The program has gained recognition over the years, receiving the Council for Advancement & Support of Education’s "Affiliated Student Advancement Programs" Award for 2008 Outstanding External Program, and the 2011 Outstanding “Tried & True” Program in CASE District 1. The program also received a 2014 Yale New Haven Hospital Auxiliary “Toy Closet Award” for consistent support of the Toy Closet Program.
This year, Teddy Bears with Love needs help to once again bring smiles to the faces of thousands of children across the country. “Teddy Bears with Love is an impactful program that brings joy to those in need during the holidays,” said 2018 student chair and Student Alumni Association director of Community Service, Kathryn Peters ’20. “I am excited and honored to be the chair for our 20th anniversary and I'm hoping for great success. It is amazing to see Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆ students, alumni, and members of our community coming together to support this wonderful cause. It makes me very proud to be a Stag!”
