Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Television Ad Inspires Local Girls to Start Foundation
Bears 4 Hope collects more than 250 bears for Children's patients
ATLANTA (July 11, 2008) – Children who are ill or injured are often sad or scared. Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta strives to create an atmosphere of normalcy and comfort for patients by offering special touches designed to brighten a hospital stay. And four girls from the Atlanta area have founded an organization that is helping Children’s achieve that goal.
Sarah Buttermore, age 8, Audrey Buttermore, age 11, Anna Buttermore, age 12, and Madelyn Mize, also age 12, were playing together when they saw a television commercial for Children’s. The girls immediately empathized with the patients, and began talking about how they would feel if they were sick and in the hospital. The girls decided they wanted to do something to help their peers at Children’s. But what could four girls, only children themselves, do?
“We realized that any time we’re feeling sad or scared, our own special stuffed animals make us feel better,” said Audrey Buttermore. So began Bears 4 Hope, a foundation formed by the girls designed to bring comfort and cheer to patients at Children’s. The girls have collected more than 250 teddy bears from their local Build-a-Bear store, and the bears will be donated to Children’s at Scottish Rite at 1 p.m., Wednesday, July 16, 2008. Interviews and photo opportunities will be available.
The girls have thoroughly enjoyed the entire process. They are especially grateful to all their donors for helping them provide extra-special bears, each made individually by its creator with love. The best part for the Bears 4 Hope founders, however, will be delivering the bears to their new friends at Children’s. “Each stuffed animal will be given with love, hope and friendship—gifts that the bears will continue to give to their new owners,” Madelyn Mize said.
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For more information on Bears 4 Hope, visit www.bears4hope.com or call 770-547-2582.
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, one of the leading pediatric healthcare systems in the country,is a not-for-profit organization that benefits from the generous philanthropic and volunteer support of our community. Operating three hospitals with more than half a million patient visits annually, Children’s is recognized for excellence in cancer, cardiac, neonatal, orthopaedic and transplant services, as well as many other pediatric specialties. Visit our Web site at www.choa.org or call 404-250-KIDS to learn more about Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.