When Rachel Rosenblum was only 4 years old, she decided she wanted to use her savings of $60 to buy teddy bears and give them to sick children at CHOC at Mission (CHM). Since her first donation, Rachel, now 12 years old, has collected and donated more than 3,000 bears. These adorable plush bears are given to patients with a personalized card of encouragement attached.

"I love reading the cards they send me, telling me that the first smiles on their faces were when they saw my bears! I feel so good to be able to help sick and injured children," Rachel says.

Rachel’s desire to comfort sick children captured the hearts of many supporters and grew so much that she and her mom, Tiffany, created their own non-profit organization, "Rachel’s Hug-A-Bears" to help even more kids. Their official website launched in March 2008, where monetary donations can be made to buy bears for patients at CHM, and soon to the CHOC campus in Orange.

"Patients may receive the bears as a comfort upon their arrival to one of the inpatient units, waiting for them on their beds when they are checked in. Some patients are given bears, which can accompany them to a procedure, such as an x-ray, CT scan or MRI or as a reward after a procedure for a job well done. The patients just love them!" says Conni VanBilliard, Child Life Specialist at CHM.

For more information on Rachel’s Hug-A-Bears, please visit www.rachelshugabears.org.

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