CEA’s charitable organization, the Connecticut Education Foundation (CEF), is once again making a difference in the lives of needy public school students through its gift-giving program, the Holiday Bear Project.
Gifts for hundreds of needy children across Connecticut are being distributed across the state during the next two weeks. The gifts were donated for an annual program that connects teachers, the public, and businesses with disadvantaged kids during the holiday season.
CEA Vice President Sheila Cohen, who serves as CEF president, says there was a tremendous outpouring of support from sponsors. “The response was so great that we are helping nearly three times as many children as we had expected,” she says. “Our goal was to help 500 children – but instead more than 1,300 children will receive holiday gifts this year.”
“It was so heartwarming to see so many huge bags of gifts arrive at CEA in early December. They filled the entire lobby area,” adds Cohen. “It’s just wonderful to know that these gifts will make the difference between a bleak, gift-less holiday and one filled with compassion and generosity.”
Nearly 10,000 Connecticut public school students have benefited from the holiday program since it began in 1998.
“The generosity of our sponsors is truly amazing and inspiring. Each year, they help the Holiday Bear Project bring out the true spirit of the holiday season and deliver joy to so many needy youngsters,” Cohen says.
For more information about the Holiday Bear Project, contact Sheila Cohen or Barbara Lupia (1-800-842-4316/860-525-5641/e-mail: sheilac@cea.org or barbaral@cea.org).
- Huge bags of gifts for 1,300 needy schoolchildren fill CEA’s lobby in early December for the annual Holiday Bear Project that matches teachers, the public, and businesses with disadvantaged kids.
