“The feeling the children get when they take that physical bear and that card they created to someone else is very empowering.”
-Joseph Sprung, Founder and CEO, Bear Givers

“This is a unique opportunity, where the clients who are often the recipients of goodwill, are now empowered to enhance the lives of others.”
-Derek Saker, Director of Communications, OHEL

“I was proud to make someone happy. It made me feel good inside to help someone else.”
-Taylor, Student, South Florida Jewish Academy

“Children from the school who give one of these bears away also get to keep one for themselves. It is a great way for students to feel good about making a difference in someone’s life.”
-Newsday

“Children can also be ‘benefactors.’ The program teaches children that when they do an act of kindness, they receive something in return. When children give away a teddy bear, they receive a teddy bear to take home. The principle seems quite simple, but the result is truly amazing. Children at SLCD identified charitable organizations in other states and countries. They wrote letters to the children in these other programs and sent teddy bears to ‘make other children feel better.’ Despite severe developmental disabilities, each child had something to say about giving a gift. ‘I sent my teddy bear to a little boy in Mexico. He doesn’t have parents. I have a mommy and a daddy. He must be very sad.’ Children’s insights are precious. Letters were then received from the children who received the teddy bears.”
-Long Island Press

“The Empowerment Program has once again been a fantastic experience for our students. Most of our students enter our school with very low self esteem… Through the Empowerment Program, our students have been made to feel better about themselves. They are no longer on just the receiving end of negativity, but on the giving end of something positive. They have learned that there are children who are less fortunate than themselves (cancer, neglect, abuse, etc.) and have developed empathy for other people. Because of the Empowerment Program, our students are able to show compassion to other children in our community through something safe and totally appropriate, like a teddy bear.
-Barbie Lauver, Achievement Academy