USF College of Nursing Students, Faculty and Alumni Deliver Bears to Sick Children at Three Hospitals in Tampa and Sarasota
University of South Florida College of Nursing students delivered 175 bears to sick children at Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Florida Hospital, and Tampa General Hospital during the 2012 holiday season.
This fall, USF College of Nursing created the B.E.A.R.S. (Bulls Encouraging and Assisting through Research and Scholarship) Program in an effort to provide alumni, students, faculty, staff, and friends with a new way to support their alma mater, and make a significant impact in the community.
A USF Nursing student handing a Bear to a child at Sarasota Memorial Hospital on Nov. 30, 2012.
The B.E.A.R.S. program is created to help bring some relief and joy into the hearts of those children that may be spending the holidays in the hospital. That joy comes from cuddly teddy bears dressed in the nursing uniform, delivered by caring members of the USF College of Nursing family.
“B.E.A.R.S. has been a huge success!” said Dianne Morrison-Beedy, PhD, RN, WHNP-BC, FNAP, FAANP, FAAN, Senior Associate Vice President of USF Health and Dean of the College of Nursing. “The B.E.A.R.S. initiative demonstrates USF College of Nursing as a positive force in Tampa Bay in collaboration with our hospital and corporate partners, allowing us to fund new research and scholarship. The USF College of Nursing is Transforming Healthcare Transforming Lives: creating the nursing leaders of tomorrow and the research that improves health ONE BEAR AT A TIME!”
So far, the College of Nursing has had over 200 bears sponsored for children in hospital care.
In 2012, bear deliveries included:
- On Nov. 30, 2012, 27 volunteers delivered 50 bears to Sarasota Memorial Hospital
- On Dec. 18, 2012, 26 volunteers delivered 50 bears to Florida Hospital Tampa
- On Dec. 20, 2012, 20 volunteers delivered 75 bears to Tampa General Hospital
“We had a great turnout at our hospital partners: Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Florida Hospital Tampa, and Tampa General Hospital. Patients in the pediatric, intensive care and mother/baby units were extremely happy to see us with early holiday gifts!” said Edwin Hernandez, Assistant Director of Alumni Relations for the College of Nursing.
More than 70 College of Nursing volunteers delivered hundreds of bears as symbols of hope and comfort. This program has brought smiles and showcased that guiding nursing light throughout several hospitals in Tampa and Sarasota.
USF Nursing alumni and students delivering a bear to a new mom who had given birth to a baby girl at the Florida Hospital in Tampa.
Through this program we have brought happiness to children in hospital care during the holiday season, provided our students and alumni with an opportunity to showcase their commitment to positively impacting the Tampa region, and raised crucial financial support for the College of Nursing.
The USF College of Nursing developed BEARS through the collaboration and generous support of Christopher J. Davis, President, L.A.D. Global Enterprises, Inc. With this support, more than $11,000 raised in this program to date will support the College of Nursing research and scholarship. The College plans on making this an annual tradition, so keep your eyes peeled for the 2013 B.E.A.R.S. information coming Fall 2013!
A USF Nursing student handing out a Bear to a child at Tampa General Hospital on Dec. 20, 2012.
Local Bay area news organizations have shown great interest in the College’s bears deliveries. Sarasota Herald Tribune, WWSB-TV ABC7, and Tampa Tribune covered the events.
Sarasota Herald Tribune’s article written by Donna Koehn:
WWSB-TV ABC7 story with video by Meredith Garofalo:
Tampa Tribunes’ story:
For more information about B.E.A.R.S. or any of the College of Nursing’s fundraising priorities, please visit our website at HEALTH.USF.EDU/NURSING/PRIORITIES or contact Director of Development Don Snyder at dsnyder3@health.usf.edu or 813.974.2570.
-USF Health-
USF Health’s mission is to envision and implement the future of health. It is the partnership of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, the College of Nursing, the College of Public Health, the College of Pharmacy, the School of Biomedical Sciences and the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences; and the USF Physician’s Group. The University of South Florida is a global research university ranked 50th in the nation by the National Science Foundation for both federal and total research expenditures among all U.S. universities.
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