Adopt-a-bear to the 911 Rescue! Miami-Dade Fire Fighters to be armed with bears for rescued and traumatized children.

Once upon a time... I was on assignment interviewing firefighters for an investigation into smoke alarms. I asked Lt. Elkin Sirrae of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue about what happens when the fire fighters rescue children from a burning house. These children are often unimaginably traumatized from the fire, and in some tragic cases, have even lost a parent, or witnessed a brother or sister injured.

I learned that –not so long ago - the fire department had teddy bears to give the children, but no longer. As Lt. Sirrae told me, “We take one of the latex gloves the paramedics use and blow it up and draw two eyes and a smile on it. We have to fashion it like a blow up toy to try and bring a smile to the children.”

Stunned, I thought, “we can do better!” While the adopt- a- bear campaign was created to help re-stock the shelves of Juvenile Court so that teddy bears could go to abused and neglected children, I could not resist the sense of obligation to try and help our firefighters and the children they encounter in such a moment of need. And so…Adopt-A-Bear for the Firefighters was born! As good luck would have it, the Metro-Dade Fire Expo was about to be held and our entire team at Adopt-a-bear decided to dedicate the donations of the day to children rescued by the fire fighters. We took lots of pictures, which you can see by clicking on the album right here

Adopt-a-Bear for the Firefighters- photo gallery

Stay tuned for an announcement of when the bears will be formally delivered to the heroes who head into the heat for all of us!

Special recognition: There are people who shine so brightly in life I an in awe of their dedication to help others. Adopt-a-bear wants to celebrate three such people without whom creating the Firefighter branch of Adopt-a-Bear would not be possible. Thanks to Karen Chamberlain, Sr. Regional Account Representative, Merrill Communications and Top Brass Ambassador Brad Schultz, along with our original Sweetheart Bear Ambassador Laura Daulau of Who’s Kickin’ on Sunset.

And a special sweet shout out to Sonia the baker who stole our hearts! Her Yummy Bakery donated hundreds of cupcakes for the event and a cake in the form of a fire truck that just wowed the children and our fire fighters!

Wishing you a joyous Holiday Season and 2009!

A Beary Special Thanksgiving

We honored the spirit of Thanksgiving by thanking her honor, Judge Cindy Lederman, and her colleagues of the Miami-Dade Juvenile Court.

Click Here to View the Photo Album

Click Here to watch Michele Gillen's report, "A Bear Thanksgiving," from CBS4 News

Photos by Isaac Levitan

Trick or Treat at the Bear Lair

Click here to watch.

"Yogi" Bears share in the light of the Brahma Kumaris

Photos by Jo Blanco



A magical night as noted lecturer Brother Charlie Hogg traveled from Australia to share insight on building healthy relationships. Bears specially dressed by Sister Isabel.

"Welcome to Miami!" Our first family of adopted bears arrives from LA

"It was a bumpy ride....but we made it! Whew!"

Lending his Voice and Heart to the children - Patrizio Buanne to take bears on world tour

He sings of love and now adopts "Adopt a Bear."

Bears Make TV on CBS4 News

Click here to watch "A Bear's Tale"

The Special Delivery

Click here to watch "A Bear's Tale: Chapter 2"

Blessing Bears join Meditators at Biltmore Hotel

Click here to watch.

Big Apple falls in love with Adopt a Bear -- "adopted" mascot for new mission to help children in South Africa. Stay tuned!

Randi Martire (left), a Yoga instructor from the Deepak Chopra Center in Manhattan, travels to South Africa to assist children in need of food, schools, and running water. The effort spearheaded by www.creative-seeds.org, an organization founded by Allison Talis (right). Traveling Bear (center) joins the two of them as they travel and touch souls. Video to come.

First and last official act - Out going DCF Chief Bob Butterworth adopts two bears as New Chief George Sheldon is sworn in

The Certificate

A Bear's Tale - Chapter One

When you are little and alone, abused and neglected, going to court and listening to adults and strangers fight over you can be very scary -- even if everyone is trying to protect you.

In an effort to bring a moment of joy to the most vulnerable of boys and girls in such traumatic times, the judges of Miami-Dade County gifted them with a bear. The furry friends made an unbearable situation a little brighter and elicited smiles and hope.

But this year, because of severe budget cuts, the dollars given to the courts to buy the bears were cut in half. So the Chief Judge of the Juvenile Court, the "Mama Bear", the Honorable Cindy Lederman, was very sad. Then one day, she met CBS4's Chief Investigative Reporter Michele Gillen, the "Curious Bear." The Judge told Michele the story of the soon-to-be missing bears.

The tale prompted Michele to imagine a world where, at minimum, all the hurt children could get the bears they needed. She had met many of these little ones who, for their own safety, had to be taken from their parents. Many waited years dreaming of being adopted.

"Adopted!" she thought. And so the idea of the Adopt-a-Bear campaign was born. She turned to a family of heroes, who were living right in her TV station, the non-profit group called Neighbors 4 Neighbors. Together with CBS4 News, they came up with a "rescue-the-bears" plan, so that judges and children's advocates no longer have to fear their bear shelves will be bare.

We invite everyone to join in and be a "Bear Ambassador." In particular, we invite children and young people to lead this campaign. Those who receive their adopted bear will know that it came from the heart and hands of another youngster -- bridging worlds, and in the gift of a bear, build a better one.

This is a story we will be writing together as a community. As we close out Chapter One, we can only hope for a Happy Ending.

With a full heart - Your forever "Curious Bear" - Michele Gillen

Bears "ham" it up for first photo shoot!

A special report in South Miami Town CenterMagazine. Bear hugs to our favorite publisher, John Edward Smith, who "bear friended" us and challenges everyone to adopt! Meet us on site at our most fantastic and first Bear Adoption Center - Just Kickin'

Get Ready for a Surprise!

Watch CBS4 News for the first bear delivery!

Miami-Dade Juvenile Court judges welcome our Bear Ambassadors and their special gifts.

Adoption Frenzy!

Posted By "Curious Bear" aka Michele Gillen - July 5th 2008

I can bearly contain my joy! In just one pilates class this morning, 16 adoptions were completed. That's 16! What a great group of dancing bears came together to help get little bears into the hands of our most vulnerable children. We decided to name our friend Laura, who sponsored 10 bear adoptions all by herself, "Miracle Bear." She knows children, she hails from the sweetest maternity and baby wear shop 'Who's Kickin'. But all our exercise friends were just super. They include, "Energy Bear" and "Spinning Bear". "Pilates Bear" sponsored an adoption and adopted another twin bear to bring home to her daugher Isabella. Many thanks to my pilates partners! At special events and what we call "Bear Sightings", you can also adopt a bear to take home - a twin bear of the one you sponsor for a child of the court.

Then it was on to visit an extraordinary group of everyday heroes! The firemen of the Coral Gables Fire Department Station 1. With "Benevolent Bear", "Smiling Bear" and "Rescue Bear" leading the way, they not only adopted a bear in behalf of the fire station, they helped us with the first official swearing- in of a "Bear Ambassador". 10 -year old Stephanie Behar says she can't wait to tell her friends at camp about the need to adopt a bear and we are helping her with a special "bear sighting" this week so that all her mates and their families can adopt a bear for the court and for themselves, as well. Thank you, sweet "Performing Bear" for being a young leader in this campaign!

Have a beautiful day everyone! And a special thank you to "Guiding Bear", my Shining Light Media partner Marcia Izaguirre - a producer and friend who illuminates all paths. And I send the grandest bear hug to a woman who's touch and vision imprints our efforts with pure genious and love....thank you Judy Flookie...the one and only "Designer Bear."

Bears storm NYC - Women of Wisdom reach out to children and respond to judges call for help

For the love of children...beautiful Ann Maples and "bear-y" handsome Bob Whitton could not resist adopting

Love is in the air...Coral Gables couple adopts 10 bears

The First Ladies of adopt a bear's first adoption center...the delicious Who's Kickin in Coral Gables

CBS-4'S Super Executive Producer Miguel Fernandez rescues a bear for court and a child

Aleksander Alembert prepares to take Bindy Bear to India

Bears enter the Eco Zone

A Neighbors 4 Neighbors going away present? Five Bear Adoptions! It doesn't get any better

Nicole Maristany, producer of Neighbors 4 Neighbors, thanking and congratulating intern Christina Rodrigues by sending love in her name to children.

Hail to the Chief for adopting two bears

A Birthday Blast for Hunter with brother and bear!

Wow! The first ever Adopt-a-Bear Birthday Party! Happy Birthday to Hunter Matthews. Thank you for sharing your day by adopting a bear - a treasured present for another youngster. Happy celebrations with your hugable brother Brooks.

Saturday's 'Official' Swearing- In Ceremony

Two soon-to-be-missing bears RESCUED!

"Three Little Bears" and two up for adoption!

"Bear-ometer" as of July20th

113 Adoptions approved so far!
The count increases by the hour...
so keep checking in!

Special thanks this week to our most generous friends
at the Florida Department of Revenue

and to the Elvis Friends South Florida Fan Club

We are your fans!

One way to get involved......

If you would like to be on the front lines of facilitating bear adoptions- connecting the children and parents of your community with little ones in need -stocking the "bare bear shelves" of the judges entrusted to help these children during the most traumatic moments, we would love to designate you an 'official' adoption center. Only requirement: love.

Miracle Bear Laura sponsors 10 adoptions!