Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation Holds September Campaign Across Tri-Counties
CENTRAL COAST — Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation (TBCF) proudly announces its 7th Annual Gold Ribbon Campaign, held in recognition of National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September. The Campaign aims to increase awareness about pediatric cancer and how it affects families and bring attention to the critical role TBCF plays in supporting families in Santa Barbara, Ventura, and San Luis Obispo countiesthat have a child battling cancer. The goal is to raise $430,000 to meet the demand for TBCF’s emotional, educational, and financial support programs which assist families of children (up to age 21) with cancer.
The funds will help TBCF continue supporting local families of children with cancer. TBCF assists families with programs that focus on financial stability as well as emotional and academic support. In 2018, TBCF helped 180 families through initial diagnosis, during treatment, and into recovery. This year, TBCF projects they will help to 190 families, a six percent increase. Since the organization’s founding, TBCF has granted more than $2 million in financial assistance.
“It is heartbreaking to learn of a child being diagnosed or passing from this tragic disease,” said Lindsey Leonard, TBCF Executive Director. “During our Gold Ribbon Campaign, we ask our community to join us in providing critical support to local families to help alleviate their financial and emotion burden.There are many ways to help support our efforts.”
Ways to Help in September:
- Donate online at www.teddybearcancerfoundation.org, by texting TEDDY to 444999, or by mail at 3892 State St. Suite 220, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
- Attend the 7th Annual Gold Ribbon Luncheon on Sept. 25. Tickets are available now!
- Volunteer your time.
- Create a Facebook fundraiser by selecting “Support Nonprofit” when creating a post. Then choose Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation. You can also “Like” and “Follow” Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation.
- Whether it’s a bake sale, garage sale or softball tournament, your event can help TBCF through the donation of proceeds.
- Advocate for kids by inviting TBCF to speak at your business, church, youth group or with friends.
- Show your support by picking up a free pin at TBCF and wearing it throughout the month.
Community donations are vital to TBCF’s ability to provide family’s with financial support for basic needs, such as hospital stays, rent or mortgage payments, hotel accommodations, counseling, tutoring and childcare.
The Gold Ribbon Campaign was named after the universal symbol for pediatric cancer awareness, which is the gold ribbon. Gold represents a precious metal, and as Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation often exclaims, the children they help are precious. “During our Gold Ribbon Campaign, we ask our community to join us in providing critical support to local families and their courageous and precious children in order to help alleviate their financial and emotion challenges,” said Leonard.
The Campaign will culminate with the Gold Ribbon Luncheon from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Wednesday, September 25, at the Four Seasons Resort, The Biltmore on the Monte Vista Lawn. The Luncheon will include an auction, facilitated by Sean Kelly from Storage Hunters. as well as a new fun activity-wine tastings! Wine tasting will be provided by Encell, Jaffurs, Los Cincos Locos, Melville, Millesime and Rancho Boa Vista Wineries.
The Luncheon will also include an honoree program and will present the Heart of Gold Award to Michael and Kathy McCarthy, The Nurture Foundation; theHumanitarian Award to Jim and Vanessa Bechtel; and the Pay It Forward Award to the Marchiano Family. The Luncheon Planning Committee, co-chaired by Eileen Dill and Brigitte Welty, is also working on several surprises for guests to enjoy.
Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation is the only nonprofit of its kind which provides financial, educational and emotional support to Tri-County families facing childhood cancer. The organization’s emotional, educational, and financial support programs are designed to offer wrap-around assistance to families from initial diagnosis, during treatment and into recovery. Financial support programs help families cover basic needs, including hospital stays, rent or mortgage payments, hotel accommodations, counseling, tutoring and childcare. When needed, TBCF assists families with funeral arrangements. To complement this monetary assistance, TBCF’s emotional support programs include family support groups, bereavement support groups, and social events.
Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation would like to acknowledge and thank its Gold Champion Campaign Sponsor, Kennedy Wilson Charitable Foundation. The organization would also like to thank the Campaign’s Visionary Sponsors: Arlington Financial Advisors, Wells Hughes; Avalan Wealth, Trudi & Rich Schuette; Kate & Art Coppola; Mechanics Bank; Isa Mireles & Talia Gerstenfeld; Pacific Premier Bank; Tom & Charmaine Rogers; Mark & Nicole Romasanta; Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Foundation; Lacy Taylor & John Thyne of the Law Offices of John J. Thyne III; and Monte & Maria Wilson.
Additionally, the following Advocate Bear Sponsors are supporting the Campaign: Allstate Insurance, Alain Welty; American Riviera Bank; Jim & Vanessa Bechtel; CenCal Health; Cox Communications; Tom & Lora Fisher; Habit Burger Grill; Wes & Stella Johnson; Fritz & Tracy Krainer; LogicMonitor; Fred & Joyce Lukas; MarBorg Industries; Montecito Bank & Trust; Pacific Western Bank; Nathan Rogers, Rogers, Sheffield & Campbell, LLP; Ava Schuette; M. Barry Semler & Family, Santa Barbara Investment Company; Ventura County Community Foundation; Volentine Family Foundation; and Wells Fargo Bank.
There are a host of other generous sponsors that are also supporting the efforts of the Gold Ribbon Campaign. Sponsorship opportunities are still available for anyone interested in further supporting TBCF’s cause.
Tickets to the Gold Ribbon Luncheon held on Wednesday, September 25th are available for $150. To purchase a sponsorship or Luncheon tickets or to make a donation to the Gold Ribbon Campaign, visit www.teddybearcancerfoundation.org.
Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation is giving free gold pins to anyone in the community who wants to pledge their support by wearing one during the month of September. Contact (805) 962-7466 to have one mailed to you or to pick one up!
Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation is a non-profit organization providing financial and emotional support to families of children with cancer living in Santa Barbara, Ventura, and San Luis Obispo counties. Services are providing to families that have a child diagnosed with cancer up to age 18 and continue until they reach 21 years of age. To learn more about Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation and how you can support families that have a child with cancer please visit www.teddybearcancerfoundation.org or contact 805-962-7466 or info@teddybearcancerfoundation.org.
Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation is asking the community to GO GOLD and relies on the generous community through financial donations and volunteer support and encourages you to contact them today!