"Bear Hugs for Haiti" - The Westchase Junior Chamber (Jaycee) Teddy Bear Drive February 2, 2010

To people of all ages, the teddy bear has become the universal symbol of love and tenderness.

In an effort to comfort the thousands of orphans affected by the devastating earthquake in Port au Prince, Haiti, The Westchase Junior Chamber (Jaycees) has initiated “Bear Hugs for Haiti” – a teddy bear donation drive taking place throughout the month of February. Donated items will be accepted thru Friday, March 12 and will benefit I Am Change, a local non-profit organization dedicated to providing clean water and care to orphans worldwide.
The community has been asked to donate their new, or gently used teddy bears and stuffed animals to the following eight donation sites:

• Ascension Episcopal School - 2525 Seagler Road Houston, TX 77042

• Associated Management Inc. - 5295 Hollister Houston, TX 77040

• First Methodist Church (Downtown) - 1320 Main Street Houston, TX 77002

• First Methodist Church (Westchase Campus) - 3663 Westcenter Drive Houston, TX 77042

• Trotter Family YMCA - 1331 Augusta Drive Houston, TX 77057

• The Westchase Methodist School - 2923 Jeanetta Houston, TX 77063

• The Westchase District Office - 10375 Richmond Avenue, Suite 1175 Houston, TX 77042

• Woodlake Square Children’s Center - 9600 Westheimer Road Houston, TX 77063

“The teddy bear drive is an immediate way for communities and businesses in Westchase and greater Houston area to help,” says Dave Gilkeson, vice president and chief operating officer of the Westchase District. “We applaud The Westchase Junior Chambers for their efforts in this initiative.”

The Westchase Junior Chamber (Jaycees) intends to collect 500 bears by the end of the program.

For more information on this or other Westchase Junior Chamber events, visit www.westchasejaycees.org or contact Thad Fiebich, president of The Westchase Junior Chamber (Jaycees) at westchasejaycees@gmail.com.

About The Westchase Junior Chamber (Jaycees):
The Westchase Junior Chamber (Jaycees) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization made up of young professionals dedicated towards developing personal and leadership skills through service to others. As part of the Junior Chamber International (JCI), a worldwide federation of almost a quarter of a million young leaders and entrepreneurs located in more than 5,000 communities in over 100 nations throughout the world, our members participate in projects, meetings, learning programs and events to help create positive change in our world.

About I Am Change:
I Am Change is a movement of everyday people that are changing the world. From issues such as the global water crisis and human – trafficking to sustainable agriculture and orphan care, I Am Change is creating practical and lasting solutions for change. For more information about I Am Change, please visit www.iamchange.org or contact Matt Shepperd at 832-594-7677.

Official Website: http://www.westchasejaycees.org