The Buddy Bear Weekend Staff is Working hard to Open New Chapters of Buddy Bear Weekend Throughout the Country. If Your City Or Town is Interested
in Hosting Your Own Buddy Bear Weekend Event Please Contact Us. Let's Work Together To Help ALL Children in Trauma!
1995
Over 60,000
New Stuffed Teddy Bears have been collected for Children in Trauma
Since 1995
Check out our
Buddy Bear®
Weekend
Video!
2019
![Ashley Hinson [left] and Ashleigh Walters [right] of WPTV 5 with Buddy Bear® at the back to School Expo](https://lirp.cdn-website.com/c96922a82f9b44b1842b11f7d51c86d5/dms3rep/multi/opt/385-1920w.jpg)
EVENT OVERVIEW
What events took place at Buddy Bear® Weekend in Treasure Coast of Florida
Opening Ceremonies
Port St. Lucie, FL - November 17 2017- The First Annual Buddy Bear® Weekend of The Treasure Coast kicked off the inaugural event with a very special opening day ceremony at The Civic Center in Port St. Lucie. The event was a huge success and we collected over 2,500 new stuffed teddy bears for first responders to give to trauma centers and children in trauma. Thank you Port St Lucie, the City of Port St. Lucie Police Department, martin County's Sherriff's Department and all First Responders in the Treasure Coast. Thanks also to the many supporters and vendors who made this event a great success for the first year.
The tri-County event dedicated to helping all children in the areas of Safety, Literacy and Education, Health, Fitness and "Going Green" will take place at the 911 memorial and American Flag in the Rotunda of the Civic Center. There were over 300 school children, each with teddy bears in hand, waiting to be the special guest marchers in The Buddy Bear® Parade. The Buddy Bear® Weekend opening ceremonies started with the singing of The National Anthem by National Singing Artist Yo Kneuer. What Immediately followed was Highland Bagpiper David Lairston playing "America the Beautiful" and "God Bless America". Then, with all of the school children, dignitaries, teachers, parents and opening day guests the Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Then the children marched in The Buddy Bear Parade into the Civic Center to the Art Gallery, the entrance way of The Buddy Bear® Den. Formal proclamations were read by Martin County and St. Lucie County Commissioners, The City of Fort Pierce and the City of Port St. Lucie representatives announcing the formal commencement of the First Annual Treasure Coast Buddy Bear® Weekend. The ribbon cutting ceremony also had dignitaries from the Sheriff Departments of Martin and St Lucie Counties, Police Departments from Stuart, Port St. Lucie and Ft. Pierce, Martin County and St. Lucie County Fire Departments, EMS Departments and The Department of Forestry. These dignitaries were the "Welcoming Committee" for the Martin County and St. Lucie County School Children as well as Morningside Academy and Home School Mom Organizations. Once the ribbon cutting ceremony ended, ourthe special guests, the school children themselves, were the first entrants into the 20,000 square foot Buddy Bear® Den...a world of information and education.
The Buddy Bear® Den consisted of Safety, Health and Fitness, Education, Going Green and more at The City of Port St. Lucie Civic Center. The event was held November 18 and 19 from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Schools, students, teachers, and parents participated in the Treasure Coast's first annual Buddy Bear® Weekend and was a huge success.
The Buddy Bear Den
The Buddy Bear® Den housed all information on Child Safety, Literacy and Going Green. Inside The Buddy Bear® Den is the Kids Zone and The Buddy Bear® Bin. The Kids Zone is non-stop entertainment and education for the children.
The Buddy Bear® Bin housed the entire collection of brand new stuffed bears and was distributed to all of the Emergency Response Officers and Trauma Centers in the communities. Everyone from Local City, County and State Officials helped during this special weekend and were present during the entire event. Everything from a Free Child ID Program from the Sheriff's Office to information on Fire Safety, Backyard Swimming Safety, Literacy, Reading, Coloring and more was all showcased inside The Buddy Bear® Den.
Yolande "Yo" Kneuer led the singing of the National Anthem at the opening ceremonies. The children even said The Pledge of Allegiance.
