A ‘Beary’ Special Act of Kindness: Birmingham Elementary Donates 600 Teddy Bears to Children’s Hospital

There’s no better day for the Birmingham Bears to deliver a little extra comfort than National Teddy Bear Day.

Birmingham Elementary presented Children’s Medical Center Plano with 600 stuffed teddy bears. Each one was donated through the Build-A-Bear Hearts ‘n’ Hugs Fund and given in the name of the Birmingham Bears.

Birmingham third-grade teacher Katy Byrd organized the donation.

“When I reached out to the Build-A-Bear Foundation, I wanted to find a way to brighten a few kids' days, but I am blown away by their generosity and the impact it will make,” Byrd said. “I can hardly find the words to describe the joy knowing that these bears will bring comfort and happiness to 600 kids.”

The idea began last school year, when Birmingham Elementary Principal Erica Brunson discussed ways to give back after returning from summer break. A community service project benefiting children receiving care at Children’s Plano was beary appealing because they wanted to find a meaningful way for the school to give back to a hospital that had cared for one of its students.

“Children’s Medical Center Plano loved on one of our own Birmingham Bears during a medical crisis, showering him with toys, gifts, and kindness while he was in the hospital,” Brunson said. “We wanted to return that kindness by donating ‘Birmingham Bears’ so other children facing illness can have a little touch of home to cuddle and comfort them.”

Byrd recalled her college days working at Build-A-Bear and reached out to the Build-A-Bear Hearts ‘n’ Hugs Fund with a proposal to donate bears to the hospital on behalf of Birmingham Elementary.

The response was even bigger than expected: Build-A-Bear agreed to donate all 600 stuffed bears that Byrd requested.

“We have over 500 students at our school, and this essentially means each of our students is ‘donating’ a bear to a child at the hospital,” Byrd said.

Half of the bears will be given to oncology patients, while the remaining 300 will be distributed to other children receiving care throughout the hospital.

“This essentially means each of our students is ‘donating’ a bear to a child at the hospital,” Byrd said.

Birmingham Elementary also added a personal touch. Students signed a banner featuring the message, “A Bear Hug from Birmingham.”

Byrd, Brunson, Assistant Principal Joannie Gragert, and Counselor Katie Ray met with Children’s Plano staff to officially present the hospital with the bears and the student-signed banner Sept. 8. The timing of the donation couldn’t be more perfect. National Teddy Bear Day is Sept. 9.