BEAR GIVERS 🧸💌

On behalf of the community @akvarel_kherson in Kherson, we want to thank @beargivers for their incredibly kind donation of plushy bears to the deserving children here, children who haven’t attended school in four years. They learn online and attend occasional clubs (e.g. dance, boxing) at their own risk, to give them an occasional break from home. In a city that has endured so much, these toys are much more than simple gifts; they provide comfort, a sense of security and a much-needed reason for children to smile amidst unimaginable circumstances. Seeing the joy on their faces as they hold something soft and cuddly, something that is ‘theirs’, serves as a powerful reminder of the compassion still present in the world. Thank you, @beargivers , for your generosity and for reminding our youngest citizens that they are not forgotten.

Earlier this week, our Leading with Kindness program was carried out in a very special way. Students at Lower Lab School in the Upper East Side decorated teddy bears and wrote thoughtful notes for students at P36K@208 in Brooklyn, a school serving children with disabilities. Each bear was paired with a personal message, which created a small gesture filled with a ton of kindness. The students at P36K celebrated the arrival of their new teddy bear friends during an event they called “Teddy Bear Day.” Staff gathered students in the cafeteria where they spoke about kindness, community, and the meaning behind the bears. One by one, students were invited to receive their own teddy bear, gifted with care by another student in the NYC public school community. The smiles, bear hugs, and happy moments captured in these photos are exactly what Leading with Kindness is all about. 🧸 What makes this even more meaningful is that these photos will now be shared with the students at Lower Lab, so they can fully experience the joy of giving by seeing firsthand how much happiness their kindness created. This is the heart of our Leading with Kindness program. Students uplifting other students. 💛 @nycschools #LeadingWithKindness #BearHugs #TeddyBearDay #StudentsHelpingStudents #NYCSchools #lowerlabschool #P36K

Bear Givers strives to find new and innovative ways to combat antisemitism, bullying, and racism, which is why we are honored to partner with the Anti-Defamation League as a sponsor of Never Is Now (March 16–17), the world’s largest gathering dedicated to combating antisemitism and hate. We proudly support the panel “Educators as Advocates: Foundations for Building Better Schools and Inclusive Workplaces.” We chose to sponsor this important conversation because it reflects the heart of our Leading with Kindness mission. Through Leading with Kindness, students learn about inclusion, acceptance, and standing up against antisemitism, bullying, racism, and prejudice. They research, collaborate, and take action, giving teddy bears and handwritten messages to individuals and communities who need encouragement most. We believe education and empathy go hand in hand. Partnering with ADL, the world’s leading anti-hate organization, reinforces our shared commitment to empowering young people to create more inclusive schools and communities. We are especially inspired as this year’s summit honors Robert Kraft with the Changemaker Award, which reminds us that leadership and action matter at every level. Join us at Never is Now and learn more about how Bear Givers’ Leading with Kindness program is shaping youth to stand up against hate and lead with compassion. “Hate loses when we stand together” -Robert Kraft’s Foundation to Combat Antisemitism @adl_national @standuptojewishhate #NeverIsNow #ADL #antidefamationleague #LeadingWithKindness #CombatHate #EndAntisemitism #BearGivers #EducationMatters #NewYork

The UKC Broadway Brunch is proudly presented by Bear Givers! Spreading love and comfort by turning teddy bears into moments of joy. Their programs inspire children to become givers and experience the happiness of helping others ✨🤍 From children to seniors, families in shelters, patients in treatment, immigrants, and even our troops, Bear Givers brings warmth, hope, and smiles where they’re needed most 🧸 We are so proud to welcome them to the club and celebrate with them in New York! @beargivers ❤️ #joy #kidshappiness #music

Thankyou so much @beargivers , Angela @medical_aid_and_rescue_service , and Sima @unlock_your_truth , and @umas.org.ua ! 🙏 One of our volunteers went along with some local volunteers to a village called Kuz'myntsi in Vinnytsia Oblast. The children were already waiting at the local administration building where many families are living after they were displaced from their homes during the war. Their situation is rather grim; no furniture, families sleep on the floor, they have a need for clothing and school supplies. After finding out about this I have started making arrangements to supply them with additional humanitarian aid and would also like to ultimately see if we can run some educational classes for these children and their families, try and help them out a little bit. These gift packages and these bears genuinely made them light up, it was a form of kindness that they are unaccustomed to, and the bears were quite a hit, they were running everywhere and playing. To quote our volunteer; "No matter what, children should have a childhood and believe in New Year's miracles." For me personally, someone who has spent the vast majority of these last 4 years at the frontline - things like this are a veritable balm on one's soul. It is good to remember why we do this work.🐻

Our annual art show for Kool Kids Passaic was another unforgettable celebration of creativity and community! Students were proud to see their artwork on display for all of their friends and family to see. Our EmpowerArt Program continues to provide a space where young artists can express themselves, feel celebrated, and shine in a meaningful way. We are honored to host an event that uplifts every artist and brings the community together! #artshow #teddybears #koolkids

Donna Klein Jewish Academy students took part in our kindness project to spread light, connection, and holiday cheer. Sixth graders shared teddy bears and heartfelt notes with their new senior friends at Sinai Center’s Independent Living, sharing laughter and good conversations as they worked together on a Chanukah Escape room. The impact of this experience was deeply felt. One resident shared, “I will think of you when I look at my bear and the joy you brought today,” while another remarked, “This is the most meaningful Chanukah gift I’ve received.” The residents were truly over the moon reading the students’ messages. One resident, Bilha, was so touched that she gave students her business card and invited them to join her for Chanukah lunch at Sinai this Sunday. We are so grateful to be part of moments like this, that turn simple acts of kindness into lasting memories. 🧸 @dkjaboca #leadingwithkindness #actsofkindness #hanukkahgift #spreadkindness #teddybears #giving

The Lower Lab School participated in our Leading with Kindness Initiative for a meaningful project centered on giving back to the community. Students decorated 300 teddy bears and wrote personal messages in notecards to be gifted to children at a local shelter before the holidays. Fifth graders paired with kindergarteners to help with the project and ensure each recipient knows that someone is thinking of them. We joined Lower Lab for an assembly to reflect on the importance of giving back. Our Chairman and Founder, Joe Sprung, spoke to the students about how they are leading with kindness and how they have the power to change the world. It was a celebration of their hard work before the bears were collected. We want to give a special thank you to Principal Sandy Miller, Josh Goldstein, and the entire Lower Lab staff for bringing this project to life and for encouraging students to experience how powerful it feels to give back. @nycschools #kindnessmatters #kindness #nycpublicschools #lowerlab #teddybear #giveback #communityfirst

This Giving Tuesday, we are celebrating the incredible impact our supporters have made! Your generosity has helped us achieve so much! So far this year, we have: 🌟 Sent over 2,000 bears to California to comfort children affected by devastating wildfires. 🌟 Continued our partnership with Mending Kids to deliver bears to children in developing countries recovering from life-saving surgeries. 🌟 Hosted our annual Art Show events and provided bears for Teddy Bear Clinics. 🌟 Sent bears to children in Israel, including young patients at Soroka Medical Center. 🌟 Helped NYC public school students experience the joy of giving through our Leading with Kindness program. 🌟 Joined families celebrating Bar and Bat Mitzvahs and special fundraising events to give back through bear donations. And the year isn’t over yet! Our programs still have more meaningful work and events ahead. Any donation, big or small, helps us continue spreading comfort, creativity, and kindness to children everywhere. If you are unable to give financially, you can support us by following, sharing, and spreading awareness. Thank you for helping us make the world a kinder place, one bear at a time. 🐻 #GivingTuesday #BearGivers #LeadingWithKindness #GiveBack #ActsOfKindness #CommunityLove

Last night, Bear Givers had the pleasure of hosting our friends and supporters for a special performance of @fixing_frankie_musical , a powerful new off-Broadway musical that celebrates our shared values of acceptance and inclusion, which are at the heart of everything we do. We were so proud to share this inspiring show with our community and want to congratulate the talented cast and production team on such a moving and successful performance! A special thank you to our friend and Bear Givers team member, @hstein123 , for helping make this unforgettable night possible. Our guests haven’t stopped raving about it! 🐻 #beargivers #spreadkindness #fixingfrankie #inclusionmatters #offbroadway #newyorktheatre #givingback #kindnessinaction

We want to congratulate Principal Sandy Miller and the P.S. 77 Lower Lab School community for earning the #1 spot among New York State elementary and middle schools in the latest US News & World Report ranking! Through their ongoing participation in our Leading with Kindness program, we’ve seen firsthand how Sandy and her team bring their values to life by recognizing that social-emotional growth is just as vital as academic success. As part of our Leading with Kindness Program, Lower Lab visited newcomers in the District 2 community, who they felt could benefit from a kind gesture. We were proud to accompany them on their visit, where students personally delivered decorated teddy bears, cards, and warm messages to newcomers in NYC. The visit was so meaningful that NY1 joined us to document the day, capturing the connection and the impact that these acts of kindness created. We also look forward to our upcoming project with Lower Lab, decorating and donating teddy bears to Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of New York-Presbyterian. Check back soon to see more from this collaboration! 🐻#beargivers #leadingwithkindness #ps77lowerlab #spreadkindness #teddybearproject #nonprofit #kindnessmatters #communityimpact #inspiringyouth #empowerchildren

19 hearts mended, countless lives changed 💜🦋 Our team had the honor of inaugurating the new pediatric cath lab at La Mascota Children’s Hospital in Managua — a major step toward a self-sustaining heart program for kids in Nicaragua. 🇳🇮 Cardiologists from the U.S., Panama, and Costa Rica joined our Nicaraguan partners to mend hearts and strengthen a regional network of care. 💙 #MendingKids #Nicaragua #LaMascotaHospital #CardiacMission #PediatricHeartCare #GlobalHealth #MendTheFuture