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Dear Friends,
I had the most wonderful experience this past weekend that involved spending time with 11 children and their families we have helped through our Bear Hug Program. I listened intently as they shared their stories with one another and watched the kids all playing together doing crafts and joking. While the holiday season is all around us and people are hustling and bustling to find the perfect gifts, these families are joyfully embracing each day with an amazing calmness! They are not racing to get to Christmas Day, because for them, each day they have is Christmas!
Help these children by making a donation to Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation today so we can continue to bring hope and joy into these children's lives. Their letters to Santa simply ask: "please let me be a kid for just one day!"
Please keep these families and their children battling cancer in your hearts and prayers during this holiday season and always! You can make this this season very special for many of these children and I sincerely thank you on their behalf for doing so!!
CLICK HERE to make a donation.
Warmest wishes,
Kathleen
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| BEAR HUG NEEDS | | |
1. Nintendo Wii
2. Xbox 360 with Kinect
3. Amazon Gift Cards
4. City Pass for Museums
5. Tickets to Disney on Ice
6. 4 Tickets to Sesame Street Live at the Rialto Square Theater 12/28/11 3:00pm Show - Rahim
7. Shopping Spree at Disney Store - Delanie
8. 4 Blackhawks Tickets - Michael
9. Personalized Blackhawks Jersey - Shannon, Anthony and Michael
10. Grocery Gift Cards (Jewel, Dominick's, Whole Foods)
11. Gas Gift Cards (BP or Shell)
If you are interested in helping fulfill a child's Bear Hug by purchasing items, helping fund a special experience or making a designated donation to this program, please EMAIL or call Meg at 312.214.1200 x25.
All donations will receive proper acknowledgement for tax purposes. |
| JOIN BEAR'S CIRCLE | |
HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT MONTHLY GIVING?
Please consider becoming a regular contributor. With just a small (or large!) gift charged to your credit card once a month, you can ensure a steady stream of income to Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation. The Monthly Giving program allows donors to easily make a gift in regular monthly installments from a credit card account - your pledge will be automatically processed each month.
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| MATCH YOUR GIFT | | |
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MATCHING GIFTS
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15,000 companies match gifts...does yours?
Many employers sponsor matching gift programs and will match charitable contributions made by their employees.
Please check with your HR Department to find out if your gift can be matched!
CLICK HERE for a list of companies with Matching Gifts!
With matching gifts you can sometimes double or even triple your gift! Please donate today!
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| BARRETT BEAR ON FACEBOOK | | |
Check out Barrett Bear's travels. Planning a trip or a great vacation? Take Barrett Bear with you, share your pictures and tell us about your adventures.
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Barrett Bear and Christmas Tree
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| EAT POPCORN AND DONATE |
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COBRA CORN
 Make sure to grab a bag of Cobra Corn today! 10% of proceeds from each bag will directly support the children of Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation.
CLICK HERE for more information and store locations.
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| DONATE NOW | | |
UNITED WAY OR WORKPLACE GIVING CAMPAIGN
Please earmark your donation to go directly to Bear Necessities through the Donor's Choice Program. All you need to do is fill in Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation, 55 W. Wacker Drive, Suite 1100, Chicago, IL 60601 and tax ID number 36-3874655.
Federal Employees may make donations to Bear Necessities using CFC #10505.
CLICK HERE to download your Giving Campaign card.
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| FEATURED BEAR HUG | | |
THEO
Theo, age 7, was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma in early 2011. When he was asked what he would like for his Bear Hug, Theo knew it would have something to do with his favorite teams... the
Cubs and the Bears.
He was able to see a game with his family at Wrigley field plus Jay Cutler was kind enough to send him an autographed football. Theo has been a real trooper, even when his treatments were overwhelming. His football arrived after a
particularly challenging and unexpected stay in the hospital. What an amazing welcome home gift! Theo and his family will be forever grateful to have such amazing memories during such a difficult time.
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| THANK YOU, BEAR HUG AMBASSADORS! |
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SEAN AND MAEVE
Who could tell a better story of Bear Necessities' work if not the children who had battled the devastating disease?
Sean, a Bear Hug Ambassador, shared an amazing story of his life and his battle, with hundreds of guests at NetIP Chicago's Gala, which included an insight on how his Bear Hug was a bright moment of hope in the dark routine of hospital days during treatment. The NetIP dinner dance was one of the most anticipated events of the year which celebrated the finale of the Cancer is Colorblind campaign benefiting Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation and Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University.
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Sean (Bear Hug Ambassador), Sean's Mom, Kathleen (President and Founder of Bear Necessities), Barbara (Director of Development)
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On November 23rd, Maeve was a star speaker at the Chicago Business Travel Association Annual meeting (Bear Necessities' new partner). She inspired every person in the room that day with her amazing "true fighter" spirit and a story of how she survived the battle with cancer, and a heartfelt testimonial on how looking forward to her Bear Hug got her through some of the tough points in her journey.
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Maeve (Bear Hug Ambassador)
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Bear Necessities provided Maeve and her dear friend with a 3 day pass to Lollapalooza in 2010. Her parents described the value of her Bear Hug the best:
For that weekend, she was a typical teen, doing the coolest thing any kid in the city wanted to do (and then writing about it on Facebook afterward!) She even got tons of compliments on her short "edgy" hairdo. And when school starts up after Labor Day, and people ask what she did this summer, she will have something awesome to talk about!
Thank you so much for giving
her such a fun weekend,
Amy & Dan, Maeve's parents
Dear Maeve and Sean, our Bear Hug Ambassadors,
thank you for sharing your stories, for being our heroes and for bringing so much meaning into our daily life!
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MARK ALLAN CONCERT
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DECEMBER 10
Celebrate the holiday season and show your support in the fight to eradicate childhood cancer with MAO Records recording artist Mark Allan.
"It's Christmas Time", the follow up to Allan's Top 40 charting single "Fool In Love." The recoding is only available digitally from iTunes or from Mark's website www.markallanofficial.com and all proceeds from the sales of the song will be donated to Bear Necessities.
Mark and his band will perform a special holiday concert this holiday season for you and your family.
Date: Saturday, December 10, 2011
Time: 9:00 pm
Location: Gabby's Kitchen, St. Charles
Tickets: The all-ages show is free to the public but donations will be accepted throughout the evening to benefit Bear Necessities
CLICK HERE or call 630-549-0656 for more information.
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AIBI: HOLIDAY SHOPPING FOR A GOOD CAUSE
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NOVEMBER 16 - DECEMBER 31
Shop twenty-one of Chicago's brightest designers and discover everything on your holiday list, from millinery and eveningwear to accessories and home decor items!
Date: November 16 - December 31
Time: For store hours call AIBI at 312-836-1041
Location: The Shops at North Bridge, 44 E Grand, Chicago
CLICK HERE here to learn more and don't forget to designate 10% of your purchase to Bear Necessities!
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NEED GIFT IDEAS?
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GIVE THE GIFT OF HOPE AND JOY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON!
 Consider making a donation in someone's name to Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation to truly make a lasting and meaningful impact this year. Unlike another tech gadget or that gift card you've been purchasing year after year, you can be sure that your gift to Bear Necessities is directly touching the lives of kids and families through the Bear Hugs Program, helping to find a cure through Bear Discoveries or supporting other pediatric cancer organizations through Bear Empowerment!
Best wishes to you and yours for the start of a happy and healthy holiday season!
Click on Barrett Bear to purchase a gift.
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AUXILIARY BOARD'S SIGNATURE EVENT
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SAVE THE DATE - JANUARY 28, 2012!
CLICK HERE to purchase tickets.
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SAVE THE DATE - MARCH 10, 2012
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BEAR TIE BALL 2012 - RHYTHMS FOR A REASON
Save the date for Bear Tie Ball 2012 "Rhythms for a Reason!"
For nineteen years, the Bear Tie Ball has been the organization's largest and most significant fundraiser. With an anticipated 700 people in attendance on March 10, 2012, this year's event promises to be a toe-tapping evening of music and celebration for a truly special reason.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
UIC Forum
725 W. Roosevelt Rd. Chicago, IL
Cocktails, Silent Auction 6pm
Dinner and Dancing until Midnight
Tickets start at $325
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| CALENDAR OF EVENTS | |
Thursday, December 8: Causemic Connections - Networking Event 6-8PM I District I 170 W. Ontario, Chicago, IL I For more information CLICK HERE
Friday, December 9: 5th Annual Ugly Sweater Holiday Party
8-11PM Rebel I 3462 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL
Saturday, December 10, 2011: Mark Allan Concert
9PM I Gabby's Kitchen, St. Charles, IL I For more information CLICK HERE or call 630-549-0656
Saturday, December 17: Holiday Toy Drive Pub Crawl - On A Bus! 6:30PM starts at The Spot - bars of the North side I 4437 N. Broadway, Chicago I For more information CLICK HERE
November 16 - December 31: AIBI Holiday Shopping
Time: For store hours call AIBI at 312-836-1041 I The Shops at North Bridge, 44 E Grand, Chicago, IL
Saturday, January 28, 2012: Auxiliary Board's Signature Event
8-12 PM I River East Art Center I 435 E. Illinois St., Chicago, IL 60611 I for more information CLICK HERE.
Saturday, March 10, 2012: Bear Tie Ball 2012 - Bear Necessities' Signature Event 6 PM-12 AM I UIC Forum I 725 W. Roosevelt Rd., Chicago, IL for more information contact Karen at kroark@bearnecessities.org or 312.214.1200 x29.
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