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Bear Givers, 880 Third Avenue, 5th Floor, New York, NY (2026)

07/30/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Bear Givers' 5th Annual Inclusion Weekend! Our weekend began with our sponsored kiddush at The Hampton Synagogue, where we were honored to present an award to Eli Beer, founder and president of United Hatzalah of Israel. Eli's extraordinary vision has helped build the world's largest volunteer emergency medical response organization, providing free emergency care across Israel.

Guests were treated Saturday evening to a dessert reception and concert by acclaimed Israeli singer הראל סקעת - Harel Skaat. One of the highlights of the night was Joe Sprung and Rabbi Marc Schneier's annual tradition of singing “My Way” together. They were joined by Harel, earning a standing ovation and creating a performance that quickly became one of the weekend's most talked about moments! During the evening, guests wrote heartfelt notes to accompany the teddy bears that Bear Givers will gift to children receiving mobility trainers from Tikkun Olam Makers.

We concluded the weekend with a Sunday tailgate in support of United Hatzalah, where Joe, Michele and Diane, on behalf of Bear Givers, dedicated an ambucycle in memory of our dear friend and longtime Bear Givers supporter, Nobel Laureate Dr. Edmund “Ned” Phelps. It was especially meaningful to Ned’s devoted wife Vivana that the dedication occurred on what would have been Ned’s 93rd birthday. After the dedication, everyone was inspired by motivational words from former NCAA Super Coach, Bruce Pearl. The ceremony concluded with Bruce presenting Bear Givers an award for all their communal efforts.

07/14/2026

Bear Givers is looking forward to hosting our 5th Annual Inclusion Weekend in Westhampton Beach, July 25-27! The celebration will begin with our sponsored kiddush at The Hampton Synagogue, honoring the lifesaving mission of United Hatzalah of Israel and its founder and president, Eli Beer, whose vision has helped provide free emergency medical care across Israel.

Saturday evening, we will host a dessert reception and special concert featuring acclaimed Israeli singer הראל סקעת - Harel Skaat. He has become one of Israel’s most beloved artists and a celebrated representative of Israeli music around the world. During the evening, guests will also have the opportunity to write personal notes to accompany teddy bears that we will gift to children receiving mobility trainers through the Hampton Synagogue’s partnership with Tikkun Olam Makers.

Our weekend wraps up with a summer tailgate hosted by Joe Sprung and Michele Turchin Mirman in support of United Hatzalah, bringing our community together for an afternoon of celebration while honoring the memory of our dear friend and longtime Bear Givers supporter, Dr. Edmund Phelps, Nobel Laureate. The event will feature Bruce Pearl, one of the most prominent Jewish figures in American college athletics, widely known for his advocacy for Israel and for strengthening Israel-American ties.
We look forward to sharing this special weekend with you all!
https://israelrescue.org/hamptonsevent2026/

05/18/2026

With great sadness, we share the passing of our dear friend, supporter, and Bear Givers family member, Dr. Edmund Phelps.
Ned was known to the world as a brilliant economist and Nobel Prize laureate, awarded the 2006 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for his groundbreaking work that transformed the understanding of inflation, employment, and economic policy.

To us, Ned was so much more.

He was a man with a heart of gold, a generous spirit, and a wonderful sense of humor that could light up any room. Together with his beloved wife Viviana, Ned stood beside Diane and Joe for so many meaningful moments over the years, joining hospital visits, teddy bear donations, and even traveling to Israel to help bring comfort through donations of teddy bears and an ambucycle to United Hatzalah of Israel.

We will particularly remember Ned’s wonderful singing voice, and the many times he and Joe joyfully sang “My Way” together at our karaoke parties. We will also always cherish the countless birthday celebrations we shared together, constantly trying to outdo one another with the funniest gift ideas and practical jokes.

Joe had the great honor of giving the introductory speeches at Ned’s 80th and 90th birthday celebrations. Those happy moments reflect their great relationship and admiration for one another and we will forever remember his laughter, his kindness, and his friendship. His legacy lives not only through his extraordinary achievements, but through every life he touched with his generosity and compassion.

Our hearts are with Viviana and the Phelps family during this difficult time.

Ned, you will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all of us at Bear Givers. ❤️

03/13/2026

Earlier this week, our Leading with Kindness program was carried out in a very special way. Students at Lower Lab School in the Upper East Side decorated teddy bears and wrote thoughtful notes for students at P36K@208 in Brooklyn, a school serving children with disabilities. Each bear was paired with a personal message, which created a small gesture filled with a ton of kindness.

The students at P36K celebrated the arrival of their new teddy bear friends during an event they called “Teddy Bear Day.” Staff gathered students in the cafeteria where they spoke about kindness, community, and the meaning behind the bears. One by one, students were invited to receive their own teddy bear, gifted with care by another student in the NYC public school community.

The smiles, bear hugs, and happy moments captured in these photos are exactly what Leading with Kindness is all about. 🧸 What makes this even more meaningful is that these photos will now be shared with the students at Lower Lab, so they can fully experience the joy of giving by seeing firsthand how much happiness their kindness created.
This is the heart of our Leading with Kindness program. Students uplifting other students. 💛
New York City Public Schools

02/25/2026

Bear Givers strives to find new and innovative ways to combat antisemitism, bullying, and racism, which is why we are honored to partner with the Anti-Defamation League as a sponsor of Never Is Now (March 16–17), the world’s largest gathering dedicated to combating antisemitism and hate.

We proudly support the panel “Educators as Advocates: Foundations for Building Better Schools and Inclusive Workplaces.” We chose to sponsor this important conversation because it reflects the heart of our Leading with Kindness mission.

Through Leading with Kindness, students learn about inclusion, acceptance, and standing up against antisemitism, bullying, racism, and prejudice. They research, collaborate, and take action, giving teddy bears and handwritten messages to individuals and communities who need encouragement most. We believe education and empathy go hand in hand. Partnering with ADL, the world’s leading anti-hate organization, reinforces our shared commitment to empowering young people to create more inclusive schools and communities.

We are especially inspired as this year’s summit honors Robert Kraft with the Changemaker Award, which reminds us that leadership and action matter at every level.
Join us at Never is Now and learn more about how Bear Givers’ Leading with Kindness program is shaping youth to stand up against hate and lead with compassion.

“Hate loses when we stand together” 💙
-Robert Kraft’s Foundation to Combat Antisemitism
Stand Up to Jewish Hate

01/07/2026

Our annual art show for Kool Kids Passaic was another unforgettable celebration of creativity and community! Students were proud to see their artwork on display for all of their friends and family to see. Our EmpowerArt Program continues to provide a space where young artists can express themselves, feel celebrated, and shine in a meaningful way. We are honored to host an event that uplifts every artist and brings the community together! 🧸

12/19/2025

Donna Klein Jewish Academy students took part in our kindness project to spread light, connection, and holiday cheer. Sixth graders shared teddy bears and heartfelt notes with their new senior friends at Sinai Center’s Independent Living, sharing laughter and good conversations as they worked together on a Chanukah Escape room.
The impact of this experience was deeply felt. One resident shared, “I will think of you when I look at my bear and the joy you brought today,” while another remarked, “This is the most meaningful Chanukah gift I’ve received.” The residents were truly over the moon reading the students’ messages. One resident, Bilha, was so touched that she gave students her business card and invited them to join her for Chanukah lunch at Sinai this Sunday. We are so grateful to be part of moments like this, that turn simple acts of kindness into lasting memories. 🧸

12/11/2025

The Lower Lab School participated in our Leading with Kindness Initiative for a meaningful project centered on giving back to the community. Students decorated 300 teddy bears and wrote personal messages in notecards to be gifted to children at a local shelter before the holidays. Fifth graders paired with kindergarteners to help with the project and ensure each recipient knows that someone is thinking of them.
We joined Lower Lab for an assembly to reflect on the importance of giving back. Our Chairman and Founder, Joe Sprung, spoke to the students about how they are leading with kindness and how they have the power to change the world. It was a celebration of their hard work before the bears were collected.
We want to give a special thank you to Principal Sandy Miller, Josh Goldstein, and the entire Lower Lab staff for bringing this project to life and for encouraging students to experience how powerful it feels to give back.
View our gallery: beargivers.org/lower-lab2025

12/02/2025

This Giving Tuesday, we are celebrating the incredible impact our supporters have made! Your generosity has helped us achieve so much! So far this year, we have:
🌟 Sent over 2,000 bears to California to comfort children affected by devastating wildfires.
🌟 Continued our partnership with Mending Kids to deliver bears to children in developing countries recovering from life-saving surgeries.
🌟 Hosted our annual Art Show events and provided bears for Teddy Bear Clinics.
🌟 Sent bears to children in Israel, including young patients at Soroka Medical Center.
🌟 Helped NYC public school students experience the joy of giving through our Leading with Kindness program.
🌟 Joined families celebrating Bar and Bat Mitzvahs and special fundraising events to give back through bear donations.
And the year isn’t over yet! Our programs still have more meaningful work and events ahead.
Any donation, big or small, helps us continue spreading comfort, creativity, and kindness to children everywhere. If you are unable to give financially, you can support us by following, sharing, and spreading awareness. Thank you for helping us make the world a kinder place, one bear at a time. 🐻
https://www.beargivers.org/donate-now

11/13/2025

Last night, Bear Givers had the pleasure of hosting our friends and supporters for a special performance of Fixing Frankie, a powerful new off-Broadway musical that celebrates our shared values of acceptance and inclusion, which are at the heart of everything we do. We were so proud to share this inspiring show with our community and want to congratulate the talented cast and production team on such a moving and successful performance!

A special thank you to our friend and Bear Givers team member, Heather Stein, for helping make this unforgettable night possible. Our guests haven’t stopped raving about it! 🐻
Learn more about the show: fixingfrankiemusical.com

Bear Givers

07/30/2026

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