The holidays will be brighter across Connecticut for children in need this year thanks to generous donors, including many teachers, who have purchased gifts through the Holiday Bear Project. Holiday Bear gifts are piling up at CEA Headquarters, and some have already been sent off to schools around the state.
“We were able to sponsor over 500 kids this year, and I’m just so grateful to all of our sponsors,” CEA Vice President and Connecticut Education Foundation President Joslyn DeLancey said in a recent interview with iHeart Radio.
The Holiday Bear Project anonymously matches up children who teachers have nominated with sponsors looking to purchase gifts for children in need. Many CEA members become sponsors as do community members—and sometimes whole classrooms and schools get involved.
Teachers care deeply about their students, and DeLancey said it can be stressful for educators who worry their students won’t have the same fun holiday experience as their classmates. “This project allows us to care for kids in a different way, outside of academics, and it’s really a huge support for our teachers to be able to provide for kids in this way.”
The Connecticut Education Foundation (CEF) has closed sponsorships for Holiday Bear this year but continues accepting monetary donations all year long that can be mailed to, CEF, 21 Oak Street, Suite 500 Hartford, CT 06106.
