Jazz Bear Brings Christmas to Underserved Children

The Utah Jazz Bear recently brought holiday cheer to hundreds of underserved children in Utah through his community initiative, Bear Hugs for Kids.  Each December, Bear Hugs for Kids sponsors holiday outings that provide low-income children the opportunity to purchase gifts for Christmas.  Approximately 450 children from Salt Lake City, Lehi and Manti benefited from Bear’s generosity this year.  Firemen & Friends for Kids, a local nonprofit, collaborated with Bear to produce the events.

Holiday activities began on December 12, when youth from the Utah Dream Center, Neighborhood House and Guadalupe Schools gathered at the Sorenson Multi-Cultural Center in Salt Lake City.  Participants boarded buses provided by Lewis Stages and traveled to Wal-Mart accompanied by a police escort.  Community volunteers assisted youth with selecting presents while Bear entertained guests.  Similar activities occurred a week later in Manti and Lehi, where local high school students helped children shop.

The Jazz Bear generates funds for Bear Hugs for Kids through an annual fundraiser, the Mascot Bowl, held in collaboration with Lehi High School and several Utah college mascots.  He also focuses on fostering healthy lifestyle choices while performing some 40 assemblies annually at schools located along the Wasatch Front.