BlueCares, the community connector of Blue Ocean seeks to partner with organizations that make a meaningful difference in our community. We are pleased to be a part of Ari’s Bears’ mission, an organization focused on bringing comfort to victims of childhood cancer. Throughout June, Blue Ocean worked with Ari’s Bears to personally assemble stuffed bears for children fighting illness in hospitals and respite houses.  Blue Ocean’s monetary contributions also helped fund grants for cancer research and scholarships for survivors.

Ari’s Bears was the dream of Ariella Stein, who first began her battle with Ewing’s Sarcoma in 2017 at the age of nine.  She decided to go to Build-a-Bear and make bears to bring to other children in hospitals.  Despite her own illness, Ariella hand-delivered bears to 7 local hospitals and respite houses and mailed many bears to children in other states before losing her battle in 2019. Her parents, Erica and David Stein, are committed to honoring Ariella’s vision by continuing to bring bears to as many children as possible.

Ari’s Bears has been an especially meaningful partner as one of our team members battled childhood cancer and personally referred the non-profit to the BlueCares committee. Other employees have contributed recommendations including the Helping Out Mission, Sleep in Heavenly Peace and several others that are on the Blue Cares calendar of support.

Photo Credit: arisbears.org