2009-02-19

Schreiner teddy bear drive for cancer children under way

Contributed

Schreiner University’s Student Activities Board, Student Senate and the men and women’s basketball teams are sponsoring Todd’s Teddy Bear Drive to collect new teddy bears for children at MD Anderson Cancer Center and other hospitals.

Todd Schwennesen, a Schreiner student who wanted to help the children he met while undergoing cancer treatment at MD Anderson, inspired the Teddy Bear Drive. He had planned to deliver bears to every cancer patient at the center, but, unfortunately, lost his battle with cancer in 2008, before accomplishing his mission.

Schreiner students then took up the task of collecting the bears. To date, Schreiner students, faculty and staff, as well as community members, have donated more than 900 bears. This year’s goal is to collect 250 new bears.

“Todd lost his battle to cancer, but his compassion for others will live on through Todd’s Teddy Bear Drive,” said Jennifer Hudson-Velazquez, Schreiner’s director of Student Activities and Greek Life. “Please know that these teddy bears bring love, compassion and hope to people in need.”

Anyone who would like to donate bears can bring them to the basketball games on Thursday, Feb. 19, when Schreiner plays Hardin-Simmons. The women’s game starts at 5:50 pm; the men’s at 7:30 pm. Bears also may be dropped off at the Student Activities Office in the Floyd & Kathleen Cailloux Campus Activity Center on the Schreiner campus.

For more information, contact Hudson-Velazquez at 830-792-7283 or jmhudson@schreiner.edu.