The History of Teddy Bears 4 Kids, did not actually start as Teddy Bears 4 Kids, but as a "Teddy Bear Tea" fundraising. The annual event was planned and organized by Barbra Raschig.
Barb developed a teddy bear donation program in the small city of Palm Harbor, Florida. Each year she hosted an event at her home, and she invited family and friends to donate new teddy bears. She planned and layed out an extravagant spread of various English Tea's, Crumpets, and other Hors D'oeuvres. She held the event five years in a row and each year from the generousity of others she would collect between 450 - 500 teddy bears, and donate them to local childrens organizations in the area which she lived in.
Sadly, she passed away suddenly in her sleep from what we believe was a brain aneurysm on November 27, 2007. She is survived by her husband of nearly 40 years, Gene; her daughter, Dawn; son-in-law, Dan; grandson, David; and mother, Daisy. The last teddy bear tea was held in her honor by her good friend Joyce in Florida on Saturday, December 1, 2007 - at this last event they collected over 500 teddy bears.
A teddy bear fundraiser "bear to make a difference" was held in Barb's honor and memory on November 22, 2008 - click HERE for pictures and news on how our fundraising event was.
