Women Helping Women collects teddy bears for local children affected by disaster

An army of fuzzy teddy bears donated by local women business leaders will help bring smiles to the faces of Chicagoland children affected by disaster.

The teddy bears were donated by the more than 95 women who attended Chuhak & Tecson’s sixth Women Helping Women Mix-and-Mingle on Thursday, April 27. Hosted by the firm’s women attorneys, Women Helping Women offers women business leaders and entrepreneurs the opportunity to combine business development, networking and community service at the same event.

Each biannual WHW event partners with a different local not-for-profit organization. For this gathering, the firm supported the American Red Cross Teddy Bear Program, which provides teddy bears to local children who have been affected by home fires and other disasters.

WHW attendees donated new teddy bears of all shapes and sizes. Employees at Chuhak & Tecson also donated bears as part of the firm’s “25 Ways of Giving Back” program celebrating its 25^th anniversary in 2012. In total, 177 bears and over $500 was collected to benefit the Red Cross.

“It was so heartwarming to see all of the teddy bears at the Women Helping Women event,” said Martha Carlos, communications director for the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago. “Each bear collected will go to comfort a child in our community who so desperately needs it.”

Chuhak & Tecson principal Lindsey Markus gave welcome remarks at the event, followed by Maureen O’Donnell, a Red Cross volunteer. O’Donnell raised awareness around Chicago-based Red Cross programs, speaking about witnessing firsthand the encouraging effects teddy bears have on the children who receive them.

Mix-and-Mingle guests enjoyed wine, hors d’oeuvres, and a signature Teddy-Tini cocktail garnished with gummy bears. Attendees received gift bags that contained a special tea blend donated by Rare Tea Cellar and affectionately named “Teddy Beary Meritage,” as well as small bears filled with honey.

Chuhak & Tecson associate Meredith Casper said she is thrilled by the ongoing commitment of Mix-and-Mingle attendees, and hopes the women realize the positive impact they have had in bringing comfort and smiles to children affected by disaster.

“Some women donated three, four, even five teddy bears,” Casper said. “My favorite part of the Women Helping Women events is knowing that together we have helped make someone’s life a little better.”