2018 FALL NEWSLETTER
A Thanksgiving Message From
Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation
Thanksgiving is a season of the heart. A special time for sharing and giving. Our team at Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation gives thanks to our supporters who help us provide support to our brave families and kids.
To those of you who take the time to help bring awareness about pediatric cancer to your friends, colleagues, and family...
To those of you who make generous financial or in-kind gifts to our organization...
To those of you who donate your time to spend with sick children in the hospital...
To those of you who labor tirelessly planning our fundraising events, program events, or helping with administrative work...
To each and every one of you who is making a difference for families that have a child with cancer...
THANK YOU. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO YOU.
Annie's Journey
When Annie was three-years-old, she told her mom she didn’t feel well. Her parents had noticed Annie was experiencing extreme fatigue and weight loss and was getting concerned for their daughter’s health. She wasn’t her usual vibrant, playful self. On a Thursday morning, Annie’s mom took her to the doctor for strep throat and a high fever, convinced that Annie either had mono or valley fever. Her pediatrician put her on antibiotics and immediately sent her in for bloodwork.
That night, the pediatrician called and told her that her bone marrow had shut down. The pathologist knew something was wrong with her labs, and after looking at her chart, her pediatrician confirmed that Annie had leukemia. Annie received her diagnosis two weeks before her fourth birthday.
This is how Annie spent the first 365 days of her 3 year-long treatment:
14 Days
The number of days from initial symptoms to diagnosis
300 Days
Annie was home sick
365 Days
Her mom took off work to be with her
146 Days
At the hospital receiving chemo or due to a fever
310 Days
Her friends missed playing with her outside while she was neutropenic
180 Days
Her chair was empty
at school
1 Day
Her nurses threw her a head shaving party
365 Days
Annie wished she didn’t have cancer
Annie was pulled out of preschool and soccer, and their family was admitted to Cottage Children’s Medical Center to begin treatment. Her platelets were so low that she had to have five blood transfusions before she could even begin chemotherapy. Her mother had been working full-time driving a fire engine for Cal Fire and had to completely stop working to care for Annie which put a huge strain on their family’s income. Her husband, although continuing to work, took three month’s leave from work to help care for his daughter.
Annie’s family resides in Atascadaro, so not only were they driving to Santa Barbara three days per week for treatment, her dad would also drive to Santa Barbara after work to check-in with his wife and Annie where they often had to stay overnight. He would then have to drive back to Atascadaro to care for Annie’s little brother, who was just a 12-months-old at the time!
“Because of Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation, we were able to focus on Annie and her needs and not how some of our bills were going to be paid.”
-Annie's mother
Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation stepped in and helped cover the cost of bills for Annie’s family. They also received Project Holiday items such as Thanksgiving food gift baskets and grocery gift cards through Project Turkey, and Christmas gifts through Project Christmas.
Although it was a long journey, their family celebrated every accomplishment. Annie finished her treatment on January 21st of this year. She spent three birthdays in treatment and is extremely excited to be celebrating her 7th birthday on November 14th! She is now a healthy 1st grader reading at a 2nd grade level and is back in soccer. She recently finished up her soccer season and is a catcher for her baseball team.
BENEFICIARY EVENTS
A GREAT WAY TO HELP TBCF KIDS!
A beneficiary event, or benefit, is when an individual, group of people, organization, or business chooses to give back in a creative way! We’ve had couples ask their friends to donate to TBCF in lieu of wedding gifts; kids have set-up lemonade stands or helped their parents with a garage sale and donated proceeds to TBCF; businesses have chosen to donate a percentage of sales back to TBCF for an entire day or even entire month; businesses have paid for a BBQ or Taco Truck for their employees for lunch and asked employees to then consider making a donation for their meal which would go directly to TBCF!
Click here to create your own fundraiser today!
Ongoing Beneficiary Events
Collects donations at their front desk throughout the year in honor of a loved one.
Allows you to choose TBCF as a recipient of the proceeds from donating a car.
Created Emery’s Pinot Noir specifically for TBCF in honor of our little hero named Emery. 100% of proceeds support our mission.
Supports us year round with bottles of TBCF branded wines.
Supports TBCF year round with 3% of book sales from his novel Eli Benjamin Bear.
Do you want to help our kids by hosting a beneficiary event? Please click here to learn more!
Upcoming Beneficiary Events
Now through the end of the year, Olio e Limone will support us with their participation in the Dishing it Out for Charity program through 805 Living Magazine. They will donate $2 for every order of Pizza con Zucco!
Past Beneficiary Events
October - November
Reese Termond, a member of TBCF’s Encouraging Youth Philanthropy Program organized a Dance Showcase at Momentum Dance Company and raised over $1,500!
Chloe & Griffin Kossen, also members of our Encouraging Youth Philanthropy Program, along with the help of their mother Erin Griffin, hosted a bake sale at Aligned Pilates. This fundraiser also featured a small boutique with health and wellness products.
Santa Barbara High School’s Teddy Bear Club, lead by Jake Ballentine, hosted a bake sale outside the Montecito Vons.
The Brewhouse Santa Barbara donated 10% of their total proceeds to TBCF with an evening fundraiser.
Ambiance Montecito hosted a wine and shopping event and donated 10% of proceeds to TBCF.
Holiday Party Gift Needs
Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation is excited to host our upcoming Annual Pediatric Oncology Holiday Party for families of children with cancer treated at
Cottage Children’s Medical Center.
We are still in need of 50 Amazon gift cards valued at $25 each for our teens attending the party!
Gifts and gift cards will be given out by Santa and Mrs. Claus to children with cancer and their siblings at the event.
If you are interested in purchasing or underwriting gift cards for our holiday party
Bear Necessities – Family Needs
A couple of our TBCF families are in need of the following. If you are interested in donating any of the below items, please email Becca.
One Queen Bed and Mattress for a TBCF Family
One Deluxe Floor Sitter, Small, Blue
One Otter Bathing System
Are you an Amazon shopper?
Did you know that when you shop using AmazonSmile and designate Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation as your chosen charity that a percentage of your purchase will be donated to us?
1. Click HERE to start shopping in support of our kids!
2. Search for our name and select us!
3. Begin shopping
4. Check out the way you always do!
If you email us letting us know that you signed up, we will register you in our quarterly drawing for a CHANCE TO WIN a very special bottle of Emery’s Pinot Noir from Melville Winery, named in honor of one of our TBCF kids, Emery.