The Steven Chabot Memorial Teddy Bear Collection

Updated January 22, 2003

In 2002 the Empire Bears expanded our annual teddy bear drive into a year-round Teddy Bear Collection in memory of our dearly departed fellow Empire Bear, Steven Chabot. We began our drive with a special Bearnight at the Forum on September 28, 2002, at which we collected 18 bears (and a penguin). Some of the first bears we collected can be seen here:

Bears collected in September

The drive continued through our Bearnight at the Forum on December 14th, 2002. That evening we began with over 140 bears and other stuffed animals which we displayed at our potluck dinner and at Bearnight. By the end of the evening we had collected a total of 161.

Bears collected through December

Bear collection with Steve L.

We are planning to send or have already distributed:

30 bears to HART (HIV/AIDS) residential services for Women and their children) for their Christmas Holiday party.
15-20 bears to the Catholic Charities HIV/AIDS program for PWA's who have children. (around Valentine's Day)
15-20 bears to the McCree/McCuller Wellness Center for Women and People of Color living with HIV/AIDS who have children (around Valentine's Day).

We're still waiting to hear back from the Action for a Better Community (ABC) HIV/AIDS Outreach Program and the NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness) program for Parents who are Mentally Ill with young children.

We're planning on having an auction/raffle fundraiser, using some of the bigger/more expensive Bears to raise funds to purchase more small-medium bears to keep on hand for year-round distribution on an as-needed basis around holidays (Valentine's Day, Easter, World AIDS Day, etc.) We will also continue collecting bears throughout the year and donating them to these organizations.

Please help us remember Steven and make the lives of children affected by HIV/AIDS a little brighter. Drop off a new teddy bear at any Empire Bears Bearnight at the Forum, or send one to:

Empire Bears
Steven Chabot Memorial Teddy Bear Drive
c/o GAGV
179 Atlantic Ave.
Rochester, NY 14607

We thank you for your support.