HUG-A-BEAR PROGRAM

        Left to right:  Diane Kolman, Hug-A-Bear service scholarship winner John Toth, Bill Lomberk and Bridgeton Rotary Club President Ted Ritter.

Bridgeton Rotary Club Hug-A-Bear Special Fund Raising Event

"LET US ENTERTAIN YOU - It's a Hug-A-Bear Production"

Presented by Bridgeton Rotary Club and Bridgeton Rotary Club Foundation

Co-Hosted by Cumberland County Soroptimist Club

Mark Your Calendars for April 17, 2010, 6 PM at

Centerton Country Club.

Sponsorships Are Available!

Contact Diane Kolman for more information on attending and how you can help!

856-455-6633 or dequestrian1@aol.com

Rotary's Hug-A-Bear and Honey-A-Bear participate in many community events and they promote the Hug-A-Bear Program throughout the year. They need the community's help to sustain and grow the program.

The program puts cuddly, teddy bears into the hands of children who are in stressful situations.  The program raises money to buy, outfit, store and distribute bears to first responders, such as police officers, firefighters and EMS workers, as well as emergency rooms, the American Red Cross, pediatric centers, county surrogate and child advocate offices.

"We are very passionate about what we do here at the Hug-A-Bear project," said Diane Kolman, Bridgeton Rotary Club member, who along with Rotarian Bill Lomberk, founded the program. "We're based in Bridgeton, but we go all over the county, and in Salem County and we're always looking to expand," said Diane.

Every two years, the Hug-A-Bear Program runs a major fund raising event in cooperation with the Bridgeton Rotary Club and seeks financial support from the community.  The next big event will be held in March 2010.

Contributions and volunteers are needed every day not only once every two years!  To make a contribution to the Hug-A-Bear Program or for additional information, contact Diane Kolman at 856-455-6633 or Bill Lomberk at 856-451-2346.  The Bridgeton Rotary Foundation / Hug-A-Bear Foundation is where money donated to this special cause is dedicated solely to the program and is managed to help grow and sustain this outstanding community service project into the future.

HUG-A-BEAR and HONEY-A-BEAR NEED YOUR HELP!

 Girl, 7, Gives Presents to Hug-A-Bear
 

Monday, February 02, 2009 By JOE GREENjgreen@sjnewsco.com
 

UPPER DEERFIELD TWP. - From time to time, adults are blown away by the things children do or say. We wonder where that comment, that question, that little altruistic deed could have come from. Perhaps adulthood corrupts simple goodness over time. Whatever the reason for our bewilderment, many here were impressed by Alyson Lupton's birthday wish.

Alyson, a township resident and student at Bridgeton Christian School, on Central Avenue, recently turned 7. Her mother, Janice Lupton, asked her if she wanted to receive gifts from her friends for her birthday or have them given to a charity.
Janice said she went over some organizations with her daughter, as possible recipients.  Alyson decided to forego the gifts and have party guests on Saturday give to the Bridgeton Rotary Club's Hug-A-Bear Program.

"Giving is good," was Alyson's reasoning, Janice said. Although very shy at first, Alyson eventually explained her choice. "When kids are in the hospital, the bears give them a hug," she said quietly. The program gives stuffed bears to children caught up in trauma or tragedy, often by way of emergency response professionals, hospital emergency rooms, the American Red Cross, county surrogates, and child advocate offices, among others.

The idea is to provide some comfort and sense of security in a time rough enough for adults, let alone kids. The program has two adult-sized mascots, the male Hug-A-Bear and female Honey-A-Bear, who often visit kids themselves at events.
The duo came to Alyson's party Saturday at Skate 2000, on Burlington Road.

Children stopped skating and lined the low brick wall around the rink, leaning over it to get a good look at them.
Others who were off the rink crowded around to meet the locally-famous pair.
 

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Website designed and maintained as a club service by Tony Stanzione, AMS Communications.   Site Last modified: 04/10/10