FAIRFIELD—Fairfield University’s Office of Alumni Relations and Student Alumni Association are once again hosting the Teddy Bears with Love Drive, and are accepting stuffed animal donations through Friday, December 7. Celebrating the program’s 20thyear, Fairfield University is inviting the community to make this year’s drive the most successful yet by donating a new, unused teddy bear or stuffed animal this holiday season.
Promoting philanthropy after Fairfield, the Office of Alumni Relations and Student Alumni Association founded Teddy Bears with Love in 1999 with the goal of providing children across the country with a “teddy bear hug” during the holiday season. Heading into its 20thyear, Teddy Bears with Love has collected nearly 21,000 new teddy bears and stuffed animals for children’s charities, thanks to the generosity of the Stag community. Alumni from across the country have helped in this effort, hosting regional chapter collection events and drives in their local schools and businesses, to ensure that as many children as possible received a plush embrace from a stuffed animal during the holiday season.
The Franciscan Children’s Hospital in Boston, Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital, and Hour Children in Manhattan are among charities across the country that have benefitted from the efforts of Fairfield’s Teddy Bears with Love Drive.
The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) recognized the program with its 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 distinction with a 2014 Yale New Haven Hospital Auxiliary “Toy Closet Award” for consistent support of the Toy Closet Program.
“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 hoping for great success. It is amazing to see Fairfield University students, alumni, and members of our community coming together to support this wonderful cause. It makes me very proud to be a Stag!”
To participate in the 2018 Teddy Bears with Love Drive, please donate a new, unused teddy bear or stuffed animal (all donations must have original tags) to a local Fairfield alumni chapter, or directly to the Office of Alumni Relations.
For more information including alumni chapter event details please visit fairfield.edu/teddybears.
Teddy bear drop off and mail in address:
Office of Alumni Relations
Fairfield University
1073 North Benson Road
Fairfield, CT 06824