Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation

TEDDY BEAR CANCER FOUNDATION IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES FINANCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT TO FAMILIES OF CHILDREN WHO HAVE CANCER LIVING IN SANTA BARBARA, VENTURA, AND SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTIES.

2023 PROGRAM STATS1. IN 2023, TBCF SERVED A TOTAL OF 257 FAMILIES, 1,101 INDIVIDUALS WITH ALL OUR PROGRAMS. 2. IN 2023, TBCF SERVED A TOTAL OF 49 FAMILIES, 222 INDIVIDUALS WITH OUR FINANCIAL STABILITY PROGRAMS.3. IN 2023, TBCF SERVED A TOTAL OF 12 FAMILIES, 51 INDIVIDUALS WITH OUR EDUCATIONAL ADVOCACY PROGRAMS.4. IN 2023, TBCF SERVED A TOTAL OF 253 FAMILIES, 1,086 INDIVIDUALS WITH OUR EMOTIONAL SUPPORT PROGRAMS.FINANCIAL STABILITY PROGRAM1. SINCE OUR INCREASE OF DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE QUALIFYING FUNDS FROM $3,500 TO $5,000, 42 FAMILIES RECEIVED THE FULL $5,000 IN DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. 2. WE EXPANDED THE AGE GROUP UP TO THE AGE OF 21 TREATED ON A PEDIATRIC PROTOCOL TO RECEIVE OUR PROGRAMS, INCLUDING FINANCIAL STABILITY. 3. WE MOVED BEAR NECESSITIES UNDER FINANCIAL STABILITY PROGRAMS AS AN ADDED LAYER THAT ASSISTS FAMILIES OF ALL INCOME LEVELS TO HELP COVER BILLS AND RECEIVED UP TO $2,000 ON LODGING GIFT CARDS AND GAS CARDS THAT COVER 4 TRIPS TO TREATMENT LOCATION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY AND STARFISH CONNECTION. 4. WITH THE SUPPORT OF $75,000 FROM AMERICAN CANCE SOCIETY, WE WERE ABLE TO WE PROVIDED 308 ONE-WAY RIDES TO 48 FAMILIES IN TRANSPORTATION FUNDS AND 250 NIGHTS TO 32 FAMILIES IN LODGING FUNDS. 5. SINCE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH STARFISH CONNECTION, WE WERE ABLE TO HELP 18 FAMILIES WITH BILLS, FOOD ASSISTANCE AND LIVING ESSENTIALS IN 2023. 6. OVERALL, WE WERE ABLE TO SERVE 161 FAMILIES, 692 INDIVIDUALS WITH OUR BEAR NECESSITIES PROGRAM.EDUCATIONAL ADVOCACY PROGRAM1. SINCE MOVING OUR TUTORING PROGRAM TO GRANT ACCESS TO SIBLINGS OF A CHILD WITH CANCER, WE SERVED 11 FAMILIES WITH TUTORING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GRADE POTENTIAL TUTORING AGENCY.EMOTIONAL SUPPORT PROGRAM1. FAMILY COUNSELING GROUPS: A. WE SERVED 69 FAMILIES, 295 INDIVIDUALS WITH OUR VIRTUAL FAMILY COUNSELING GROUPS (ENGLISH PARENT, SPANISH PARENT, TEEN & KIDS), THIS IS A 30% INCREASE FROM 2022. 2. INDIVIDUAL & COUPLES COUNSELING W/ FSA: A. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FAMILY SERVICE AGENCY TO PROVIDED INDIVIDUAL AND COUPLES COUNSELING TO OUR FAMILIES, WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE 65 SESSIONS OF COUNSELING TO 6 FAMILIES.3. FAMILY CONNECTION EVENTS: A. WE PARTICIPATED IN OUR 2ND CHILDRENS FIESTA PARADE IN SANTA BARBARA. WE INVITED A FEW OF OUR FAMILIES TO JOIN OUR TEAM TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PARADE. WE HAD SURREYS THAT WERE KINDLY DONATED BY SANTA BARBARA TROLLEY COMPANY. B. WE COLLABORATED WITH SANTA BARBARA TRAPEZE COMPANY TO OFFER 4 TRAPEZE LESSONS TO TEDDY BEAR CANCER FOUNDATION FAMILIES. WE HAD OVER 17 CHILDREN ATTEND THE LESSONS. AT THE END OF THE SERIES, FAMILIES ATTENDED SANTA BARBARA TRAPEZE OPEN HOUSE IN WHICH THE CHILDREN WERE ABLE TO PERFORM. C. IN COLLABORATION WITH AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY, TEDDY BEAR CANCER FOUNDATION HELPED HOST THE FIRST CONSTRUCTION VS. CANCER IN THE CENTRAL COAST OF CALIFORNIA. THIS EVENT IS TO RAISE AWARENESS ON PEDIATRIC CANCER. WE HAD OVER 6 FAMILIES ATTEND, EACH TBCF FAMILY HAD VIP ACCESS TO MANY OF THE GAMES AND ACTIVITIES THAT DAY. D. OUR LONG-TIME SUPPORTER AND DONOR, EARL MINNIS, SPONSORED 16 TICKETS FOR TEDDY BEAR FOUNDATION FAMILIES TO JOIN HIM AT THE TEEN STAR SHOW. TBCF FAMILIES WERE ABLE TO ENJOY THE SHOW AND MEET OTHER FAMILIES. E. IN COLLABORATION WITH CAPTAIN SPENCER MACRAE, LOCAL SANTA BARBARA BUSINESS OWNER OF SUNSWEPT SAILING, AND DR. THEA GOEPFORT, CERTIFIED SOUND HEALER, WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE 6 OUR TEENS AT THE TEDDY BEAR CANCER FOUNDATION THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN A UNIQUE SAILING AND SOUND HEALING EXPERIENCE ABOARD THE SAILING YACHT, KELPIE. THIS WAS A PRIVATE EXPERIENCE FOR TEENS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER TO CONNECT WITH EACH OTHER. F. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SURF HAPPENS FOUNDATION, WE HOSTED OUR ANNUAL FAMILY SURF DAY FOR OUR FAMILIES IN THE TRI-COUNTIES. OVER 50 INDIVIDUALS ATTENDED THE EVENT, FAMILIES WERE ABLE TO MEET IN-PERSON AND CONNECT WITH OTHER FAMILIES. FOR THE SECOND YEAR, CHICK-FIL-A KINDLY DONATED THEIR FOOD FOR FAMILIES THE DAY OF THE EVENT. G. WE HOSTED OUR 3RD HOLIDAY PARTY DRIVE THROUGH EVENTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH RIDLEY TREE CANCER CENTER IN SANTA BARBARA AND MISSION HOPE CANCER CENTER IN SANTA MARIA. FAMILIES WERE ABLE TO RECEIVE PRESENTS AND GET OUT OF THEIR CARS TO ENJOY SOME MUSIC, TAKE PICTURES WITH MR. AND MRS. CLAUS WHILE DOING ARTS AND CRAFTS. H. VENTURA POLICE DEPARTMENT HOSTED SHOP WITH A COP EVENT FOR 5 VENTURA FAMILIES TO SHOP WITH THEM DURING THE HOLIDAYS. THIS ALLOWED FOR 5 CHILDREN IN TREATMENT TO MEET THE COPS AND ENJOY A DAY OF SHOPPING WITH THEM. 4. PROJECT HOLIDAY & CARE FOR THE CAREGIVERS: A. IN 2023, TBCF SERVED 130 FAMILIES, 566 INDIVIDUALS WITH PROJECT HOLIDAY PROGRAMS, AND 55 FAMILIES, 235 INDIVIDUALS WITH OUR CARE FOR THE CAREGIVERS PROGRAM. DUE TO OUR TRANSITION IN STAFF, WE DECIDED TO MERGE PROJECT MAMA BEAR AND PROJECT PAPA BEAR AS PROJECT CARE BEAR TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE LOVE AND SUPPORT TO PARENTS AND CARE GIVERS. B. WE RECEIVED AN INCREASE IN FUNDS FOR PROJECT CHRISTMAS FROM AN ANONYMOUS ANGEL DONOR THAT PROVIDED 56 FAMILIES WITH A YEAR MEMBERSHIP TO COSTCO AND A $450 COSTCO GIFT CARD ASIDE FROM EACH FAMILY RECEIVING PROJECT CHRISTMAS PRESENTS. FAMILY TESTIMONIALS: 1. "I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE TUTOR THAT HAS BEEN COMING TO THE HOUSE. SHE IS A LIFE SAVER. WE LOVE HER! SHE HAS HELPED THE KIDS SO MUCH, AND ITS BEEN A WEIGHT OFF MY SHOULDERS. I APPRECIATE YOUR HELP."2. "WE RECEIVED ALL THE WONDERFUL GIFTS, GOODIES, AND CHRISTMAS TREE FROM ONE OF YOUR LOVELY VOLUNTEERS. JUST WANTED TO SAY WE THANK YOU SO MUCH. WORDS CANNOT EXPRESS HOW GRATEFUL WE ARE TO YOUR FOUNDATION AND THE VOLUNTEERS. THANK YOU TO THE LUKE 12:48 FOUNDATION AS WELL, FOR THE COSTCO MEMBERSHIP AND GRACIOUS GIFT CARD. YOU ALL HAVE TRULY BLESSED MY FAMILY AND HAVE MADE OUR CHRISTMAS SO SPECIAL. TIMES ARE HARD AND YOU ALL HAVE DEFINITELY BRIGHTENED UP OUR CHRISTMAS SPIRITS. GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN."3. TEDDY BEAR CANCER FOUNDATION IS THE MOST HEARTWARMING FOUNDATION! THE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT AND LOVE AND CARE THEY HAVE FOR EVERYONE IS SO SWEET! HOW MUCH THEY PUT THEIR HEARTS INTO EVERYTHING THEY DO FOR BROOKLYNN AND HER 3 OLDER SISTERS IS SO AMAZING! THEY ALWAYS BRING HAPPY WARM SMILES TO OUR FAMILY AND OUR MEMORIES!4. MY NAME IS EUGENIA AND MY SON'S NAME IS CRISTIAN. WHEN MY SON WAS DIAGNOSED WITH LYMPHOMA CANCER THE NEWS WAS VERY DIFFICULT AND VERY HARD FOR MY WHOLE FAMILY. WE KNEW HE WAS GOING TO HAVE A LONG TREATMENT BUT THANKS TO GOD, TEDDY BEAR CANCER FOUNDATION HELPED US IN DIFFERENT WAYS, FIRST THEY HELPED US TO FIX OUR CAR WHEN IT BROKE DOWN, THEN THEY HELPED WITH FOOD AND GAS CARDS, AND THERAPY TO BE ABLE TO NAVIGATE THIS DIFFICULT JOURNEY. THANK YOU TEDDY BEAR CANCER FOUNDATION5. WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THE TEDDY BEAR TEAM FOR OFFERING SUPPORT AND COUNSELING FOR ALL THE FAMILIES THAT ARE GOING OR HAVE GONE THROUGH SIMILAR, SHARED, SITUATIONS.