WHO: Mike Daigle, Executive Director of SBN, Presents Bears to Representatives from Pediatric Departments at Elkhart General Hospital, Lakeland Health, Memorial Children’s Hospital, Plymouth Medical Center, and Saint Joseph Health System
WHAT: Delivery of over 1900 Bears Collected from Sixth Annual Bears in the Air Program
WHEN/WHERE: Tuesday, December 19, 2017
Saint Joseph Health System, 5215 Holy Cross Parkway, Mishawaka, IN at 9:00 a.m.
Elkhart General Hospital, 600 East Blvd., Elkhart, IN at 11:30 a.m.
Memorial Children’s Hospital, 615 N. Michigan St., South Bend, IN at 2:00 p.m.
Wednesday, December 20, 2017
Lakeland Health, 1234 Napier Ave., St. Joseph, MI at 10:00 a.m.
Plymouth Medical Center, 1915 Lake Ave., Plymouth, IN at 2:00 p.m.
ACTUAL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2017
9:00 a.m. Media and SBN Staff arrive at Saint Joseph Health System Main Lobby
– Presentation of Bears to Staff
– Presentation of a Bear to a Patient
– Individual Interviews
11:30 a.m. Media and SBN Staff arrive at Elkhart General Hospital Main Lobby
– Presentation of Bears to Staff
– Individual Interviews
2:00 p.m. Media and SBN Staff arrive at Memorial Children’s Hospital Main Lobby
– Presentation of Bears to Staff
– Presentation of a Bear to a Patient
– Individual Interviews
ACTUAL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2017
10:00 a.m. Media and SBN Staff arrive at Lakeland Health Main Lobby
– Presentation of Bears to Staff
– Individual Interviews
2:00 p.m. Media and SBN Staff arrive at Plymouth Medical Center Main Lobby
– Presentation of Bears to Staff
– Individual Interviews
South Bend, IN. – More than 1900 newly purchased teddy bears have been collected as a result of South Bend International Airport’s (SBN) sixth annual Bears in the Air program. On Tuesday, December 19, SBN’s Executive Director Mike Daigle and SBN team members will present the bears to pediatric department representatives at Saint Joseph Health System at 9:00 a.m., Elkhart General Hospital at 11:30 a.m. and Memorial Children’s Hospital at 2:00 p.m. Additionally, an SBN team member will personally present a bear to a child at both St. Joseph Health System and Memorial Children’s Hospital. The following day, the bears will be presented at Lakeland Health at 10:00 a.m. and Plymouth Medical Center at 2:00 p.m.
The bears will offer companionship and smiles during a child’s difficult time. Each hospital will distribute the bears to young patients as they see fit.
“We could not be happier with the results of the Bears in the Air program as we celebrate six years,” said Mike Daigle, SBN Executive Director. “Thanks to our generous community, we have surpassed our goal of 1750 bears. We are touched and grateful.”
The Bears in the Air collection program began on December 1, 2017 when travelers and the general public were invited to donate a newly purchased teddy bear or make a cash donation. The program provides both the donation of teddy bears to children and a cash donation to the Robert L. Miller, Sr. Veteran’s Center. A “Bear Den” inside the terminal served as a collection point for the bears.
About the South Bend International Airport
South Bend International Airport’s three air carriers provide nonstop flights to ten cities: Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Fort Myers/Punta Gorda, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, New York City/Newark, Orlando/Sanford, Phoenix/Mesa, and Tampa Bay/St. Petersburg with connections world-wide. South Bend International’s multi-modal terminal serves over one million air, rail and bus passengers each year. According to the 2012 Economic Impact Report from the Aviation Authority of Indiana, South Bend International’s total annual economic impact on South Bend and surrounding communities was in excess of $1.7 billion.
