Respond With Love® Teddy Bear Drive

King of Prussia Mall

February 13-15, 2015

Contents

Updated As Of March 5, 2015

Pages

Overview 2- 4

Signage 5- 6

Recipient Organizations 7-21

Participating Individuals and Schools 22-39

Participating Retailers 40-53

News Media and Social Media Coverage 54-76

The Respond With Love® Teddy Bear Drive was held at the King of Prussia Mall during February 13-15, 2015. Teddy bears and stuffed animals were displayed, collected, and sponsored by America Responds With Love® during Valentine’s Day Weekend. Shoppers and visitors were encouraged to sponsor individual teddy bears and stuffed animals to help provide funds to the national non-profit organization. Shoppers and visitors were also encouraged to donate teddy bears and other stuffed animals to America Responds With Love. A number of retailers at the King of Prussia Mall participated in the Respond With

Love Teddy Bear Drive by donating stuffed animals as well as by encouraging customers to visit the event to sponsor stuffed animals and to donate stuffed animals.

Sponsored stuffed animals were then used by America Responds With Love to help comfort children in distress, including situations of abuse and domestic violence, individuals with developmental disabilities, military veterans, senior citizens, and others truly in need.

Communities in five counties in eastern Pennsylvania received assistance from America

Responds With Love through the Respond With Love Teddy Bear Drive at the King of

Prussia Mall.

In Berks County, the Visiting Nurse Association of Berks County and the Visiting Nurse

Association of Pottstown & Vicinity received stuffed animals from America Responds

With Love. Among those helped in Chester County were the City of Coatesville Police

Department, the Domestic Violence Center of Chester County, and the South Coatesville

Police Department, serving the Boroughs of Modena and South Coatesville. The

Veterans Multi-Service Center, located in Coatesville, also received assistance. The

Delaware County Office of Services for the Aging received teddy bears and other stuffed

animals through the Respond With Love Teddy Bear Drive. In Montgomery County,

the Upper Merion Township Police Department and the West Conshohocken Borough

Police Department were helped as was the Montgomery County Court House Child Care

Center in Norristown. The Schuylkill County Office of Senior Services received teddy

bears and other stuffed animals from America Responds With Love.

“We are pleased that the King of Prussia Mall hosted the Respond With Love Teddy Bear Drive,” explained Mr. Richard McDonough, President and Chief Executive Officer of America Responds With Love. “People throughout the Greater King of Prussia Area and beyond generously donated teddy bears and stuffed animals as well as donated to sponsor individual teddy bears and stuffed animals. The Respond With Love Teddy Bear Drive allowed America Responds With Love to continue to provide needed resources for children and families in difficult situations.”

During recent years, America Responds With Love has provided teddy bears, stuffed animals, and comfort pillows to help comfort people truly in need in Alabama, Colorado, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas.

Signage

Two businesses donated the formal signage used at the Respond With Love Teddy Bear

Drive. FASTSIGNS of Willow Grove and Lancaster in Pennsylvania donated the floor

and tabletop signage for America Responds With Love. Printing & Publications of

Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania, donated the Note Cards for the event.

Mr. Jérôme Elion, President of Printing & Publications, is seen here holding two of teddy

bears as well as Note Cards donated by the firm for the Respond With Love Teddy Bear

Drive. Individuals used to the Note Cards to wrote Notes of Love to go with their

sponsored teddy bears and other stuffed animals.

Signage was provided by FASTSIGNS of Willow Grove and Lancaster.

Recipient Organizations

America Responds With Love donated teddy bears and other stuffed animals to help

comfort children and others people truly in need through the Respond With Love Teddy

Bear Drive. These organizations included the City of Coatesville Police Department, the

Delaware County Office of Services for the Aging, the Domestic Violence Center of

Chester County, the Montgomery County Court House Child Care Center, the Schuylkill

County Office of Senior Services, the South Coatesville Police Department, the Upper

Merion Township Police Department, the Veterans Multi-Service Center, the Visiting

Nurse Association of Berks County and the Visiting Nurse Association of

Pottstown & Vicinity, and the West Conshohocken Borough Police Department.

Sergeant Rodger H. Ollis, Jr. is seen here with his wife, Michele, and their daughters

(from left) Keira, 6 years old, and Madison, 11 years old. Both daughters helped Sgt.

Ollis select teddy bears and other stuffed animals at the Respond With Love Teddy Bear

Drive to help children and others truly in need in the City of Coatesville.

“The City of Coatesville Police Department truly appreciates the opportunity to partner

with America Responds With Love,” explained Sergeant Ollis. “We plan on having the

teddy bears at our police station and in our patrol cars. While we hope that they are never

needed; inevitably, we will be called to a set of circumstances involving a child that has

endured a heart-breaking situation. Having teddy bears available for children that are

experiencing tragic events supports our mission, demonstrates our sense of care, and

serves to provide comfort during a challenging time.”

Officer Claire Lang and Chief Jack Laufer of the Coatesville Police Department are seen

here holding several of the teddy bears and other stuffed animals donated by America

Responds With Love.

Ms. Kate Johnson (left), Assistant Marketing Manager at the King of Prussia Mall, is

seen here presenting stuffed animals to Ms. Theresa Butts (middle) of the Delaware

County Office of Services for the Aging. Helping with the presentation is Ms. Susan

Wenrick of the Montgomery County Office of Aging and Adult Services.

“The Delaware County Office of Services for the Aging has a yearly afghan drive where

the volunteer ombudsman distributes the afghans to nursing home residents,” explained

Ms. Butts. “Our office would like to distribute teddy bears along with the afghans to the

nursing home residents. We thank America Responds With Love for thinking of our

agency.”

“Domestic violence affects every member of the family, especially the children,”

explained Ms. Terry Moody, Director of Development and Communications for the

Domestic Violence Center of Chester County. “Family violence creates a home

environment where children live in constant fear. Children who witness family violence

are impacted in ways similar to children who are physically abused. They are often

unable to establish nurturing bonds with either parent, and are in fact at greater risk for

abuse and neglect if they live in a violent home.”

“These children react to their environment in different ways, and reactions can vary

depending on the child's gender and age,” Ms. Moody continued. “Children exposed to

family violence are more likely to develop social, emotional, psychological and or

behavioral problems than those who are not. Children need special care and

understanding, and something like a teddy bear to call their own could make a difference

in their lives.”

Ms. Linda M. Awarski is here holding one of the teddy bears donated by America

Responds With Love to the Montgomery County Court House Child Care Center.

“America Responds With Love has provided to the Montgomery County Court Child Care Center gifts of books, pillows, and teddy bears during the last few years,” explained Ms. Awarski, Director of the child care center at the Montgomery County Court House complex. “The teddy bears and pillows have been distributed to children ranging from infant through school age. With each donation, the Court Child Care Center focuses on the nurturing component of quality care for families who are going through difficult situations in their lives. Our program serves families with domestic violence issues as well as custody, criminal, and other similar situations.”

“Children are our county's greatest resource and the most vulnerable part of our community,” Ms. Awarski continued. “Children attending our program that have received the generous donations from America Responds With Love have greeted the donations with a warm hug, smile, and thank you. The teddy bears have found homes in the arms of our stressed youth and became personal possessions that provide comfort as out little people dealt with issues like family stress. home relocation, or displacement to shelters. America Responds With Love‘s role in the lives of families has helped to make all of us know that we count, are valuable, and that mankind cares.”

“The Schuylkill County Office of Senior Services is pleased to accept the donation of 25

teddy bears and other stuffed animals and comfort pillows from America Responds

With Love,” stated Ms. Georgene M. Fedoriska, Executive Director of the Schuylkill

County Office of Senior Services. “These items will assist our caseworkers in showing

their support and compassion to our local seniors who may be going through a loss or

other stressful events.”

“We know seniors can experience loss in many ways such as a loss of a loved one, loss of

independence, and loss of a lifestyle they have known for many years,” continued Ms.

Fedoriska. “I am sure your organization’s donation will bring a smile and a feeling of

encouragement to those seniors who will be receiving them.”

Officer Salvatore A. Cracchiolo of the South Coatesville Police Department is seen here

with his wife, Nadija. They are both holding some of the teddy bears and other stuffed

animals donated by America Responds With Love.

The Upper Merion Township Police Department was one of the recipients of teddy bears

and other stuffed animals from America Responds With Love. Officer Harry M.

Nuskey (left) and Officer Chris Dolga (right) are seen here receiving stuffed animals

from Ms. Kathy Smith, Marketing Manager at the King of Prussia Mall.

“For years, we have been giving teddy bears to children who are involved in incidents

that are sometimes overwhelming and frightening,” explained Officer Nuskey of the

Community Response Unit for the Department. “The Upper Merion Police Department

is grateful to America Responds With Love for giving us the opportunity to help ease

the fears of a child during these times.”

Frank Burke of the Veterans Multi-Service Center is seen here with a few of the stuffed

animals – including a teddy bear decked out in Philadelphia Eagles garb – donated by

America Responds With Love to help military veterans and their families in Chester

County and elsewhere in eastern and central Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, and

Delaware.

“The donation of the stuffed animals to the Veterans Multi Service Center has afforded us

the opportunity to assist our veterans and their families to ease the transition of new

housing and stabilization,” stated Mr. Burke. “The stuffed animals, especially for the

children, hopefully give them a sense of comfort during stressful times and would put

smiles on their faces. I thank America Responds With Love for the donation and the

passion in the work of the organization.”

America Responds With Love donated a number of stuffed animals for use by the

Hospice Program of the Visiting Nurse Association of Berks County and the Visiting

Nurse Association of Pottstown & Vicinity.

“Berks VNA and the VNA of Pottstown & Vicinity are so grateful for the stuffed animals

from the America Responds With Love,” stated Ms. Whitney Venus, Director of Fund

and Business Development for this Bucks County-based organization. “The donated

stuffed animals will be used for the families of our clients who are using our hospice

services. Bereavement services are just as important to us as the hospice services

themselves, and the stuffed animals will help make a hard time just a little bit easier for

the families.”

Chief Michael Sinclair of the West Conshohocken Police Department holds two of a

number of stuffed animals donated by America Responds With Love to this

Montgomery County community.

“I have been with the Department for 15 years and have been a volunteer firefighter for

33 years,” stated Officer Andrew Carlin of the West Conshohocken Borough Police

Department. “I think it is a wonderful thing what America Responds With Love is

doing. We will be able to use these teddy bears and other stuffed animals! We greatly

appreciate each and every stuff animal we receive.”

“I feel these teddy bears would be extremely helpful when we receive calls where

children are involved,” Officer Carlin continued. “They would assist us in calming and

comforting a child when they’re in the middle of a scary situation. When children are

involved in traumatic events - like a car crash or domestic violence incidents - it can be

overwhelming. These bears can helps us build a connection with the child, enabling us to

help them feel safe and protected while we’re around.”

“Although stuffed animals may seem like a small gesture to some, they can be an

uplifting and soothing gift to a child going through a difficult situation,” concluded

Officer Carlin.

Participating Individuals and Schools

A number of individuals and schools participated in the Respond With Love Teddy Bear

Drive at the King of Prussia Mall. The Lacrosse Team of The Haverford School

collected teddy bears from students, families, and friends. The Service Club of the

Springfield Township Middle School in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, also donated

teddy bears and other stuffed animals to America Responds With Love. People who

work at the King of Prussia Mall as well as shoppers and visitors to the King of Prussia

Mall also participated in this civic event. Some individuals donated teddy bears and

other stuffed animals. Others sponsored individual stuffed animals to be donated to

people truly in need.

Mr. Peter Olsho of the Springfield Township Middle School in Montgomery County,

Pennsylvania, is here with stuffed animals donated by students at school as part of the

Respond With Love Teddy Bear Drive. He is an 8th

Grade Science Teacher as well as

the Service Club Advisor at this school in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

A variety of teddy bears, monkeys, and other stuffed animals

were donated by students at the Springfield Township Middle School.

“We are more than happy to help. Our lacrosse program is known

for producing great players but we want to be known as being great people.

We are happy to help out in any way that we can. Thank you for

giving us the opportunity to participate in this drive.”

The entire Lacrosse Team at The Haverford School participated in the Respond With

Love Teddy Bear Drive at the King of Prussia Mall. Pictured above with some of the

stuffed animals donated by students, family members, and friends are Mr. Luke

Desperito, Mr. Grant Ament, Mr. Evan Haas, Mr. Payton Hollway, Mr. Sam Denious,

Mr. John Nostrant, and Mr. Henry Cordisco. Other members of the team included Mr.

Shane McBride, Mr. Tucker McBride, Mr. Forry Smith, Mr. Josh Hoefner, Mr. Chris

Maguire, Mr. Will Towle, Mr. T.J. Malone, Mr. Luke O’Grady, Mr. Scott Deck, Mr.

Tyler Burt, Mr. Tim Carlson, Mr. Drew Supinski, Mr. Phil Poquie, Mr. Brandon Shima,

Mr. Brendan Jacob, Mr. Lane Odom, Mr. Colin Bosak, Mr. Jake Hervada, Mr. Brian

Casey, Mr. Peter Rohr, Mr. Dox Aitken, Mr. Brendan O’Neill, Mr. Jack Marshall, Mr.

Keyveat Postell, Mr. Alec Haas, Mr. Austin Helms, Mr. Conner Mosebrook, Mr. Ryan

Jacob, Mr. Max Brooks, Mr. Remy Smith, Mr. Frankie D’Angelo, Mr. Ethan Masucci,

Mr. Gee Smith, Mr. Mbogo Mwangi, Mr. Jack Denious, Mr. Graham Haabestad, Mr.

Matt Tucker, Mr. Jackson Spahr, Mr. Noah Lejman, Mr. Jack Doran, Mr. Niles Easley,

Mr. Ben Euler, Mr. Miller Joyce, Mr. Connor Atkins, Mr. Andrew Westby, Mr. Andrew

Fine, Mr. Frankie Spitz, Mr. Billy Holmes, Mr. Ed Garno, Mr. Chris Morrison, Mr. Chris

Hervada, Mr. Evan Scott, Mr. Fred Hammer, Mr. Charlie Cordisco, Mr. Jack Costello,

Mr. Aiden Mantelmacher, Mr. Tucker Desperito, Mr. Ed King, Mr. Logan Atkins, Mr.

Alex deMarco, Mr. Seamus Glavin, Mr. Parker Henderer, Mr. Harrison Felheimer, Mr.

Colin Moran, Mr. Charlie Lesco, Mr. Nico Tellez, and Mr. Ryan Sanfilippo.

Members of the Lacrosse Team of The Haverford School helped write and attach Notes

of Love to stuffed animals. Participants included (below, from left) Mr. Jack Denious,

Mr. Henry Cordisco, Mr. Will Towle, Mr. Conner Mosebrook, and Mr. Evan Haas as

well as Mr. Billy Holmes (above).

Mr. Alec Haas (above) and Mr. Evan Scott (below), members of the Lacrosse Team at

The Haverford School, are seen here preparing Note of Loves for stuffed animals.

Members of the Lacrosse Team at The Haverford School brought a variety of teddy bears

and other stuffed animals to the Respond With Love Teddy Bear Drive, including Mr.

Shane McBride, Mr. Tucker McBride, Mr. Brandon Shima, Mr. Jack Doran, Mr. Lane

Odom, Mr. Logan Atkins, Mr. Connor Atkins, and Mr. Peter Rohr.

Mr. Trevor Seufer and Ms. Kate Funk sponsored teddy bears at the

Respond With Love Teddy Bear Drive.

Mr. Connor Wolfe is seen here holding a monkey from America Responds With Love.

He visited the Respond With Love Teddy Bear Drive with his aunt, Ms. Kim Wolfe, and

his cousin, Ms. Kailey Greenberg. The family is from the Souderton/Telford Area.

Mr. Adam Boyer is seen here as he prepared a Note of Love to go with his sponsored

stuffed animal at the Respond With Love Teddy Bear Drive. Mr. Boyer attends

Villanova University Law School and is from York Springs in Adams County.

Ms. Melanie Solano, left, a kindergarten teacher at Rainbow Elementary School in

Coatesville, volunteered to help at the Respond With Love Teddy Bear Drive.

Marlene and Don Bieber were among individuals who sponsored teddy bears and other

stuffed animals at the Respond With Love Teddy Bear Drive at the King of Prussia

Mall.

A number of comfort pillows were displayed at the Respond With Love Teddy Bear

Drive at the King of Prussia Mall. These comfort pillows were initially sent to the Town

of Newtown in Connecticut following the tragedy in that community. America

Responds With Love worked with the Town of Newtown to relocate thousands of teddy

bears, stuffed animals, and comfort pillows that had been donated for that community.

Comfort pillows were used to help people truly in need in Alabama, Colorado, Delaware,

New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas.

Mr. Paul Hwang and Ms. Margaret Park, both from the City of New York, helped

sponsor teddy bears as part of the Respond With Love Teddy Bear Drive at the King of

Prussia Mall.

A number of retailers and service providers at the King of Prussia Mall supported the

Respond With Love Teddy Bear Drive. Among the supporters were Aerie, Aveda,

Bailey Banks & Biddle, Brighton Collectibles, The Cheesecake Factory, Dandelion,

Francesca’s, Godiva, Gymboree, Helzberg Diamonds, Kay Jewelers, Learning Express,

Long & Foster, Monsoon, Norman’s Hallmark Gold Crown, Pandora, and Zales.

Aerie encouraged customers and visitors to participate in the Respond With Love Teddy

Bear Drive at the King of Prussia Mall. Among those supporting these community

efforts are, from left, Ms. Ailey Potter, Sales Associate; Ms. Kristina Bowman, Key

Holder; and Ms. Liz Salinas, Sales Associate.

Ms. Ria Adderley, Store Manager of the Aveda Experience Center at the King of Prussia

Mall, helped support the Respond With Love Teddy Bear Drive. Customers who

brought a teddy bear or other stuffed animal to Aveda were able to receive a

complimentary hair service.

Bailey Banks & Biddle supported the Respond With Love Teddy Bear Drive at the King

of Prussia Mall. Pictured here are Ms. Carolyn Capistrano, Sales Consultant, and Mr.

Mark Pletcher, Assistant Manager.

Ms. Deann Dry, Ms. Molly Reese, Ms. Janet Milakeve, Ms. Allison Sohoski, and Ms.

Mary Rapp of Brighton Collectibles supported the Respond With Love Teddy Bear

Drive at the King of Prussia. Both Ms. Dry and Ms. Rapp donated a variety of stuffed

animals to America Responds With Love.

The Cheesecake Factory at the King of Prussia donated a number of stuffed animals to

America Responds With Love. Presenting the stuffed animals were, from left, Mr.

Brian Parente, Senior Manager, and Mr. Scott Fisher, General Manager, at The

Cheesecake Factory.

Dandelion was one of several stores that supported the Respond With Love Teddy Bear

Drive. Pictured here are Ms. Stephanie McNeeley, Store Manager, and Ms. Danielle

Fasano, Sales Associate.

FedEx Office in King of Prussia helped support the Respond With Love Teddy Bear by

printing initial note cards provided to retailers at the King of Prussia Mall.

Godiva donated a number of stuffed animals (above) as part of the Respond With Love

Teddy Bear Drive at the King of Prussia Mall.

Helzberg Diamonds donated dozens of stuffed animals to America Responds With

Love. The non-profit organization used these stuffed animals to help comfort children

and others truly in need throughout the Delaware Valley and beyond.

Kay Jewelers in Exton, King of Prussia, and Springfield donated stuffed animals to

America Responds With Love. A number of these stuffed animals were donated to help

comfort children and others truly in need by the non-profit organization.

Kaitlin, a Sales Associate at Learning Express, is seen here combing out the hair of a

stuffed dog to help prepare the stuffed animal for the Respond With Love Teddy Bear

Drive.

Ms. Alex Daley (left) and Ms. Cathy Daloisio were two of the Sales Associates at

Norman’s Hallmark Gold Crown Store who helped support the Respond With Love

Teddy Bear Drive at the King of Prussia Mall.

Pandora supported the Respond With Love Teddy Bear Drive at the King of Prussia

Mall. Among those participating were, from left, Yaya, Shadirah, Ariel, and Althea.

News Media and Social Media Coverage

Several news stories were broadcast and printed detailing the Respond With Love Teddy

Bear Drive at the King of Prussia Mall, including news coverage by The Coatesville

Times of Coatesville, FOX 29 of Philadelphia, The Times Herald of Norristown, and

WCHE 1520 AM of West Chester. In addition, a number of Facebook and other social

media sites detailed this civic event,

Coatesville PD Takes A Softer Approach

To Community Policing

America Responds With Love helps police respond to traumatized children

By Kyle Carrozza, Staff Writer, The Times

COATESVILLE – The city’s Police Department will have some new passengers in their

patrol cars from now on, and these passengers will not require handcuffs.

Partnering with the nonprofit America Responds With Love, the police department will

now carry teddy bears in their cars to be given out when officers respond to calls

involving children.

Police Chief Jack Laufer said that America Responds With Love President and CEO

Richard McDonough reached out to the police department to provide teddy bears to

children who are affected by events as simple as car accidents to the more trying times

such as child abuse or when parents are arrested in front of them.

“There are so many opportunities where law enforcement is put in a negative situation

and the children have to view those negative circumstances,” he said. “Ultimately, the

goal is to make it better for the kids.”

Laufer said that the teddy bears are a way of reaching out to children during these

potentially traumatic events. He thinks that the program plays into the department’s

philosophy of community policing.

“That’s obviously what you want to maintain and you want to try to nurture and foster, is

that certain level of innocence at that age,” he said. “Could it potentially maintain and

shape them for their future development? I would say yes.”

Sgt. Rodger Ollis, whose daughters helped select the bears, agreed.

“It does speak to our mission; we’re protectors,” he said.

© Times Community News Group - February 18, 2015

Coatesville PD Takes A Softer Approach

To Community Policing

America Responds With Love helps police respond to traumatized children

By Kyle Carrozza, Staff Writer, The Times

COATESVILLE – The city’s Police Department will have some new passengers in their

patrol cars from now on, and these passengers will not require handcuffs.

Partnering with the nonprofit America Responds With Love, the police department will

now carry teddy bears in their cars to be given out when officers respond to calls

involving children.

Police Chief Jack Laufer said that America Responds With Love President and CEO

Richard McDonough reached out to the police department to provide teddy bears to

children who are affected by events as simple as car accidents to the more trying times

such as child abuse or when parents are arrested in front of them.

“There are so many opportunities where law enforcement is put in a negative situation

and the children have to view those negative circumstances,” he said. “Ultimately, the

goal is to make it better for the kids.”

Laufer said that the teddy bears are a way of reaching out to children during these

potentially traumatic events. He thinks that the program plays into the department’s

philosophy of community policing.

“That’s obviously what you want to maintain and you want to try to nurture and foster, is

that certain level of innocence at that age,” he said. “Could it potentially maintain and

shape them for their future development? I would say yes.”

Sgt. Rodger Ollis, whose daughters helped select the bears, agreed.

“It does speak to our mission; we’re protectors,” he said.

© Times Community News Group - February 18, 2015

America Responds With Love

P. O. Box 5000

Valley Forge, PA 19482

1-321-AMERICA

information@respondwithlove.org

www.respondwithlove.org