Courtesy photo.
SANTA BARBARA — Due to the unhealthy air quality and overall impact of the fire, some of Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation’s significant events were cancelled in 2017, including the Annual Little Heroes Breakfast fundraiser in Ventura and the Annual Holiday Party for kids and their families scheduled for Santa Barbara.
“Cancer does not get put on hold when disasters and other situations arise,” said Lindsey Leonard, executive director of Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation. “Unfortunately, some of our year-end events we count on to raise funds for our kids and their families had to be cancelled,” said Leonard. “Add to that the additional financial burden of having to evacuate these sick kids, pay for hotels, food, gas and clothing…this fire has taken its toll on everyone.”
Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation is committed to helping those in need in our community during this difficult time. Staff and volunteers were hard at work to offer help to displaced families with emergency hotel accommodations. This is especially critical for families whose children may already have compromised immune systems. We are also committed to ensuring that families’ groceries and rent, mortgage, and utility bills are taken care of even during times of natural disaster.
Throughout the month of December, Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation coordinated the delivery of more than 1,000 gifts to families throughout the Tri-County Region to lift their spirits and spread holiday cheer.
Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation is grateful for all the success it has seen in the past year and is thankful for all its wonderful supporters and stakeholders.
Since its start in 2002, this organization has been privileged to support more than 1,800 individuals in need and provide more than $1.8 million in financial assistance. This funding goes towards families’ immediate expenses during the first three to six months of their child’s cancer treatment, as well as emotional support services and educational programs for children and their families.
As the New Year approaches, Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation encourages the community to consider giving the gift of love and support to families whose children are in the fight against cancer. Your generosity impacts lives in more ways than you can imagine.
For more information about Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation and ways to donate, please visit www.teddybearcancerfoundation.org or call (805) 962-7466.
About Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation: 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. In 2017, Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation projects they will provide services to 700 individuals. For more information, or to make a donation, visit TBCF online at www.teddybearcancerfoundation.org, on Facebook (Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation)or call (805) 962-7466.