Bears in the Air

 

Invitation for Bears in the Air: White background with a barely visible green snow flake. 14th Annual Bears in the Air is written in red, Kick off Party is written in blue, the date time and location are written in green. The Bears in the Air bear logo is shown to the left.

 

This is a photo of three people standing together in the center. To the left is a hospital employee, in the middle is a hospital employee who is holding a bear with the CEO of the airport on the right. There are bags of bears in the foreground and the background is a hospital lobby. About the Program

Bears in the Air is our annual program that was established as a way for the community to come together and make a positive difference. Its overarching purpose is to provide support to children and Veterans in our community who could use a little extra help or a reason to smile. Each year, funds are raised to provide newly purchased teddy bears to children in area hospitals. The bears provide joy and comfort to the children when there is little reason to smile. The program also supports our community’s most vulnerable Veterans who have served our great country and are now in need of our support. In addition to the bears, the funds also provide financial assistance to the Robert L. Miller Sr. Veteran’s Center in South Bend.

 

In the foreground of this photo, two hospital workers touch bags of bears that are all bundled sitting on the floor. Community Impact

Funds are raised through donations and entry fees to the kick-off party that takes place at SBN each year on the first Friday following Black Friday. To date, more than 22,000 new teddy bears have been delivered to children in area hospitals including A Rosie Place for Children, Beacon Children’s Hospital, Corewell Health Lakeland Hospital, Elkhart General Hospital, and Saint Joseph Health System. Additionally, $106,600 has been raised for the Veterans and donated to the Veteran’s Center.

 

This photo shows the terminal at South Bend International with many round tables and people sitting or standing at the tables and conversing. Attend This Year’s Kick-Off Party

Interested in making a difference by attending the kick-off party or contributing a monetary donation?  Reserve a table of 10 for $450. Contact Julie Curtis at [email protected] or (574) 800-3230. The event is open to the public for adults 21+. Reservations are based on availability and payment must be received by November 21, 2025. Individual tickets will be available at the door.

 

 

Donate on GiveGrove

Not able to attend this year’s kick-off party, but still want to be involved? Make a donation via our GiveGrove site.

 

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