After a two-year hiatus, one of the most popular Martha’s Vineyard Teddy Bear Suite traditions has returned to the annual holiday fundraiser. We need you to help name the new big bear for the Martha’s Vineyard Teddy Bear Suite
Help Name The New Big Bear For The Martha’s Vineyard Teddy Bear Suite – A Holiday Tradition From The Beginning
Twelve years ago when we founded and launched the Martha’s Vineyard Teddy Bear Suite Fundraiser, the goal was always two-fold. First, we wanted to make a real difference in our community by helping support the children and families on the Vineyard. That is where the fundraising for the Martha’s Vineyard Boys & Girls Club vital Food Security programs comes in (more about that below).
Our second goal was to create a magical holiday tradition featuring the Teddy Bear Suite that anyone in the Vineyard community could enjoy — with literally thousands of bears — where families, friends, and kids of all ages could have some whimsical festive fun for a good cause. Over the years, we’ve hosted and met thousands of visitors
While the MV Teddy Bear Suite has enjoyed several locations and several different looks over the years, this year’s Teddy Bear Suite will be all-new and located outdoors at Nevin Square — but of course, with some fun connections to our past. Hence, adding our 10th Big Bear. We started this tradition in year one, and have been adding larger-than-life bears, most years since. This year’s new member of the bear family is more than 7-feet tall! Now, we need a name.
That’s where you come in. You can nominate names here in the blog or on our social media using the hashtag #mvteddybearsuite.
We will pick a new name on Thursday December 8th, just before Christmas in Edgartown, and you will see our new big bear in the Christmas in Edgartown parade. You can stop by in the meantime, and see her/him in-person in our Nevin Square office at 19 Winter Street, Edgartown.
Now there is a theme of sorts that has emerged with the Big Bear naming tradition…
Help Name The New Big Bear For The Martha’s Vineyard Teddy Bear Suite – Meet The Rest Of The Bear Family
Every year we have added a big bear, names that have interesting ties to the Vineyard always prevail. Let’s see what you can come up with!
Help Name The New Big Bear For The Martha’s Vineyard Teddy Bear Suite – Fun And Fundraising To Make A Difference
In the first 11 years of the Martha’s Vineyard Teddy Bear Suite Fundraiser, we have raised more than $318,000 for the Martha’s Vineyard Boys & Girls Club after-school programs. We’ve learned as many others have, that food security is a very serious issue here on the Island, and the Club has been an innovator in creating solutions and running programs that actually make a difference. We’ve seen the results.
We became the founding sponsor of the Healthy Happy Kids program, which has evolved into the vital core food security program that now serves on average 240 prepared meals and snacks every day, and provides 1,200 meals and snacks every week. In the last year, the Club has provided more than 50,000 prepared meals and snacks to members and their families.
As the needs grow, the Club is expanding its Food Security programs to include: packaged family meals during vacations and weekends; opened the Blue Door Pantry with perishable and non-perishable foods, hygiene products, and essential clothing items; partnered with Cronig’s Market and some local farms to gather and distribute food that would otherwise be discarded.
As we name the new Big Bear, and reopen the new festive MV Teddy Bear Suite, we would be honored if you join us and donate today. Click here to make your secure, tax-deductible donation to the Martha’s Vineyard Teddy Bear Suite and the MV Boys & Girls Club.