Bears for Buddies

Hi, Buddy! :: October 1 - December 1

Now in its fourth year, Bears for Buddies-presented by Celebrity Charity Wishes-provides new teddy bears and ‘Hi, Buddy!’ gift packs to 300+ children at Novant Health: Hemby Children’s Hospital andRonald McDonald House of Charlotte. Each year, special celebrity guest spend the day visiting the children, a healthy meal is prepared by a celebrity chef and a mini-concert provides entertainment.

Teddy bears provide a distraction from the stress and fear children experience while in the hospital, and are a never-ending source of hugs. The gift packs provide the children with items to make theirstay in the hospital more comfortable:

Bears for Buddies provides courage in a scary place, a smile to replace the tears, hugs to make it allbetter, and strength to get through it all.

The ‘Hi, Buddy!’ campaign allows community members to sponsor a bear ($10) of ‘Hi, Buddy!’ pack ($25) in honor/memory of a loved one. This year’s campaign has a goal of 300+ bears. Visitwww.celebritycharitywishes.org for full details and sponsor a bear.

socks, scarves, and hatscoloring books and crayonspuzzle bookspersonal music playersart suppliesfamily movies (DVD format)journalsjournals

Why teddy bears? Teddy bears will always be your friend Teddy bears listen carefully to everything you say, but will never repeat it Teddy bears allow you to be who you are Teddy bears provide unconditional love and endless hugs

2014 Bears for Buddies Events

Celebrity Participants (past and present)

The Organization :: Celebrity Charity Wishes

Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital (2:00 pm – 4:00 pm)Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte (5:30 pm – 8:00 pm)

Nick Cannon, America’s Got TalentAlgee, Disney film starTocarra Hamilton, R&B recording artistBruce Irvine, engineer & producerBoris Kodjoe, actorShaniah Jones, Tutus & Tennis ShoesMo’Nique, actress & comedienneMo’Nique, actress & comedienneTerrell & Wayne Riley, NASCAR producers & directorsNe-Yo, R&B recording artistAngie Stone, R&B recording artistMichelle Williams, Gospel recording artistComissioner Stan Watson, Dekalb CountyAshley Harkrader, Miss North CarolinaTyrone Poole, Two-time Superbowl Champion: PatriotsTyrone Poole, Two-time Superbowl Champion: PatriotsMaria Howell, Singer & Actress

Celebrity Charity Wishes, Inc. is a charitable organization that teams up with celebrities and industry professionals to grant love and wishes to terminally-ill children. The organization works to enrich the lives of these brave and courageous young people by bringing them relief, happiness and smiles… and making them feel like a star for the day. The organization was founded in honor of Brianna Watts, a 15-year old from Charlotte, North Carolina who was battling Osteosarcoma (a bone cancer). Watts had a ‘wish list’ of celebrities she wanted to meet and the organization’s founders collaborated to make her wishes come true. Watts’ courage and spirit, and the joy derived from making her feel like a star, inspired the creation of Celebrity Charity Wishes. feel like a star, inspired the creation of Celebrity Charity Wishes.

Teddy Bear Bandits :: Lenora Bobo & Toni BrownLenora Bobo and Toni Brown, affectionately called the Teddy Bear Bandits are the superheroes behind Celebrity Charity Wishes and the Bears for Buddies initiative. The friends and business partners joined forces in 2009 to grant the wish of a courageous young lady who was battling bone cancer at Levine Children’s Hospital (Charlotte, North Carolina). The organization has been powered by their passion every since.

Bobo and Brown have delivered smiles and hugs to hundreds of children as they Bobo and Brown have delivered smiles and hugs to hundreds of children as they battle [potentially] terminal illnesses. The smiles are delivered via the Hi, Buddy! Packs they present to the children to help make their stay in the hospital more comfortable. The hugs come in the form of teddy bears, hand-delivered to the young patients to help raise their spirits and provide comfort during treatment.

Some of the teddy bears are donated, some are sponsored and some are purchased by Bobo and Brown. All are given with the spirit, hope and strength to help the patients be victorious in the toughest fight of their young lives. patients be victorious in the toughest fight of their young lives.

2014 Beneficiaries

Presbyterian Healthcare and Novant Health exist to improve the health of community’s one person at a time. Presbyterian Hemby Children’s Hospital offers patients remarkable medicine, while offering parents peace of mind. From neonatal and pediatric intensive care to a wide variety of pediatric specialties, Hemby Children’s Hospital is small enough to give patients individualized attention, yet large enough to attract some of the most skilled doctors and nurses in the region.

Where there is a sick child who requires specific treatment at a children's medical facility, a Ronald McDonald House is open to welcome and comfort families in need. Families are stronger when they are together, which helps in the healing process. By staying at a Ronald McDonald House, parents can also better communicate with their child’s medical team, and keep up with complicated treatment plans as needed. The primary goal at Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte is to provide families a safe, comfortable and supportive environment while their children receive medical treatment at nearby medical facilities.

2014 “Our Hearts” Recipients

Austin Sells

Kyarra Janae McClellan

Austin Sells is a 6 year old boy, legally blind, deaf (with hearing aids), Cerebral Palsy (CP), Hydrocephalus and ADHD. CP is usually caused by brain damage that occurs before or during a child’s birth, or during the first 3 to 5 years of a child’s life. The brain damage that leads to Cerebral Palsy can also lead to other health issues, including vision, hearing, speechproblems and learning disabilities. Austin has undergone three brain surgeries in the pastyear, lost his hearing and speech in 2012. Austin’s three wishes would be to take a train rigde to Disney World, before he lost his hearing Austin loved listening to Mickey Mouse onrigde to Disney World, before he lost his hearing Austin loved listening to Mickey Mouse ontelevision; a weekend at Great Wolf Lodge because he loves water parks; and to have hisvery own little play area with swings, water slides, ride four wheelers with his cousins and beindependent in doing what he loves. He is a very amazing little boy that enjoys the outdoorsand doesn’t let his disabilities stop him from enjoying life. In 2013, Austin met Michelle Williams at the Ronald McDonald House “Bears for Buddies” and hangs on so tightly to the teddy bear she had given to him. His mother believes Austin will cherish that moment for the rest of his life. His mother’s dream, “Just for my son Austin and his brothers to have athe rest of his life. His mother’s dream, “Just for my son Austin and his brothers to have achance to be able to just be little boys and have a weekend without worrying about anything would be an amazing feeling! I hope and pray one day my family is able to giveback to the community the way you all have and are still doing.”

Kyarra Janae McClellan was born September 27, 2006; she was diagnosed with Sickle CellDisease at birth. Sickle Cell DIsease is a chronic illness that presents itself with severe pain, affects the spleen and prevents those afflicted with the disease from fighting infections. Forthe first four years of her life, Kyarra was hospitalized twice monthly with stays lasting from twoto 11 days. Within the last few years, she has been hospitalized frequently and her visits have been more severe. Kyarra was tested annually for symptoms of stroke. The name of the test iscalled Trancranial Doppler. She is now seven, in the second grade and has to take chemo-called Trancranial Doppler. She is now seven, in the second grade and has to take chemo-theraphy medication daily for the rest of her life. Kyarra tries very har to be a normal child. Sheenjoys dressing up, playing with dolls, getting her nails polished, shopping for clothes, danceclasses, and loves gymnastics. Kyarra’s heartfelt wishes are to have a Princess Tiana bedroommakeover, a trip to visit the Georgia Aquarium and World of Coca Cola Tour in Atlanta, and a chance to meet Ariana Grande (Singer & Actress). In addition to Kyarra’s wishes, an educationalscholarship is needed to help further her education at Brisbane Preparatory School in Charlotte, North Carolina. Through it all, Kyarra remains in good spirits and she is a fighter!North Carolina. Through it all, Kyarra remains in good spirits and she is a fighter!