2. Contents
Updated As Of March 5, 2015
Pages
Overview 2- 4
Signage 5- 6
Recipient Organizations 7-21
Participating Individuals and Schools 22-39
Participating Retailers 40-53
News Media and Social Media Coverage 54-76
3. The Respond With Love® Teddy Bear Drive was held at the King of Prussia Mall
during February 13-15, 2015. Teddy bears and stuffed animals were displayed,
collected, and sponsored by America Responds With Love® during Valentine’s Day
Weekend.
Shoppers and visitors were encouraged to sponsor individual teddy bears and
stuffed animals to help provide funds to the national non-profit organization.
Shoppers and visitors were also encouraged to donate teddy bears and other stuffed
animals to America Responds With Love.
A number of retailers at the King of Prussia Mall participated in the Respond With
Love Teddy Bear Drive by donating stuffed animals as well as by encouraging
customers to visit the event to sponsor stuffed animals and to donate stuffed
animals.
4. Sponsored stuffed animals were then used by America Responds With Love to help
comfort children in distress, including situations of abuse and domestic violence,
individuals with developmental disabilities, military veterans, senior citizens, and
others truly in need.
Communities in five counties in eastern Pennsylvania received assistance from America
Responds With Love through the Respond With Love Teddy Bear Drive at the King of
Prussia Mall.
In Berks County, the Visiting Nurse Association of Berks County and the Visiting Nurse
Association of Pottstown & Vicinity received stuffed animals from America Responds
With Love. Among those helped in Chester County were the City of Coatesville Police
Department, the Domestic Violence Center of Chester County, and the South Coatesville
Police Department, serving the Boroughs of Modena and South Coatesville. The
Veterans Multi-Service Center, located in Coatesville, also received assistance. The
Delaware County Office of Services for the Aging received teddy bears and other stuffed
animals through the Respond With Love Teddy Bear Drive. In Montgomery County,
the Upper Merion Township Police Department and the West Conshohocken Borough
Police Department were helped as was the Montgomery County Court House Child Care
Center in Norristown. The Schuylkill County Office of Senior Services received teddy
bears and other stuffed animals from America Responds With Love.
“We are pleased that the King of Prussia Mall hosted the Respond With Love Teddy
Bear Drive,” explained Mr. Richard McDonough, President and Chief Executive
Officer of America Responds With Love. “People throughout the Greater King of
Prussia Area and beyond generously donated teddy bears and stuffed animals as
well as donated to sponsor individual teddy bears and stuffed animals. The
Respond With Love Teddy Bear Drive allowed America Responds With Love to
continue to provide needed resources for children and families in difficult
situations.”
During recent years, America Responds With Love has provided teddy bears,
stuffed animals, and comfort pillows to help comfort people truly in need in
Alabama, Colorado, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
5. Signage
Two businesses donated the formal signage used at the Respond With Love Teddy Bear
Drive. FASTSIGNS of Willow Grove and Lancaster in Pennsylvania donated the floor
and tabletop signage for America Responds With Love. Printing & Publications of
Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania, donated the Note Cards for the event.
Mr. Jérôme Elion, President of Printing & Publications, is seen here holding two of teddy
bears as well as Note Cards donated by the firm for the Respond With Love Teddy Bear
Drive. Individuals used to the Note Cards to wrote Notes of Love to go with their
sponsored teddy bears and other stuffed animals.
7. Recipient Organizations
America Responds With Love donated teddy bears and other stuffed animals to help
comfort children and others people truly in need through the Respond With Love Teddy
Bear Drive. These organizations included the City of Coatesville Police Department, the
Delaware County Office of Services for the Aging, the Domestic Violence Center of
Chester County, the Montgomery County Court House Child Care Center, the Schuylkill
County Office of Senior Services, the South Coatesville Police Department, the Upper
Merion Township Police Department, the Veterans Multi-Service Center, the Visiting
Nurse Association of Berks County and the Visiting Nurse Association of
Pottstown & Vicinity, and the West Conshohocken Borough Police Department.
8. Sergeant Rodger H. Ollis, Jr. is seen here with his wife, Michele, and their daughters
(from left) Keira, 6 years old, and Madison, 11 years old. Both daughters helped Sgt.
Ollis select teddy bears and other stuffed animals at the Respond With Love Teddy Bear
Drive to help children and others truly in need in the City of Coatesville.
9. “The City of Coatesville Police Department truly appreciates the opportunity to partner
with America Responds With Love,” explained Sergeant Ollis. “We plan on having the
teddy bears at our police station and in our patrol cars. While we hope that they are never
needed; inevitably, we will be called to a set of circumstances involving a child that has
endured a heart-breaking situation. Having teddy bears available for children that are
experiencing tragic events supports our mission, demonstrates our sense of care, and
serves to provide comfort during a challenging time.”
10. Officer Claire Lang and Chief Jack Laufer of the Coatesville Police Department are seen
here holding several of the teddy bears and other stuffed animals donated by America
Responds With Love.
11. Ms. Kate Johnson (left), Assistant Marketing Manager at the King of Prussia Mall, is
seen here presenting stuffed animals to Ms. Theresa Butts (middle) of the Delaware
County Office of Services for the Aging. Helping with the presentation is Ms. Susan
Wenrick of the Montgomery County Office of Aging and Adult Services.
“The Delaware County Office of Services for the Aging has a yearly afghan drive where
the volunteer ombudsman distributes the afghans to nursing home residents,” explained
Ms. Butts. “Our office would like to distribute teddy bears along with the afghans to the
nursing home residents. We thank America Responds With Love for thinking of our
agency.”
12. “Domestic violence affects every member of the family, especially the children,”
explained Ms. Terry Moody, Director of Development and Communications for the
Domestic Violence Center of Chester County. “Family violence creates a home
environment where children live in constant fear. Children who witness family violence
are impacted in ways similar to children who are physically abused. They are often
unable to establish nurturing bonds with either parent, and are in fact at greater risk for
abuse and neglect if they live in a violent home.”
“These children react to their environment in different ways, and reactions can vary
depending on the child's gender and age,” Ms. Moody continued. “Children exposed to
family violence are more likely to develop social, emotional, psychological and or
behavioral problems than those who are not. Children need special care and
understanding, and something like a teddy bear to call their own could make a difference
in their lives.”
13. Ms. Linda M. Awarski is here holding one of the teddy bears donated by America
Responds With Love to the Montgomery County Court House Child Care Center.
14. “America Responds With Love has provided to the Montgomery County Court Child
Care Center gifts of books, pillows, and teddy bears during the last few years,”
explained Ms. Awarski, Director of the child care center at the Montgomery County
Court House complex. “The teddy bears and pillows have been distributed to
children ranging from infant through school age. With each donation, the Court
Child Care Center focuses on the nurturing component of quality care for families
who are going through difficult situations in their lives. Our program serves families
with domestic violence issues as well as custody, criminal, and other similar
situations.”
“Children are our county's greatest resource and the most vulnerable part of our
community,” Ms. Awarski continued. “Children attending our program that have
received the generous donations from America Responds With Love have greeted
the donations with a warm hug, smile, and thank you. The teddy bears have found
homes in the arms of our stressed youth and became personal possessions that
provide comfort as out little people dealt with issues like family stress. home
relocation, or displacement to shelters. America Responds With Love‘s role in the
lives of families has helped to make all of us know that we count, are valuable, and
that mankind cares.”
15. “The Schuylkill County Office of Senior Services is pleased to accept the donation of 25
teddy bears and other stuffed animals and comfort pillows from America Responds
With Love,” stated Ms. Georgene M. Fedoriska, Executive Director of the Schuylkill
County Office of Senior Services. “These items will assist our caseworkers in showing
their support and compassion to our local seniors who may be going through a loss or
other stressful events.”
“We know seniors can experience loss in many ways such as a loss of a loved one, loss of
independence, and loss of a lifestyle they have known for many years,” continued Ms.
Fedoriska. “I am sure your organization’s donation will bring a smile and a feeling of
encouragement to those seniors who will be receiving them.”
16. Officer Salvatore A. Cracchiolo of the South Coatesville Police Department is seen here
with his wife, Nadija. They are both holding some of the teddy bears and other stuffed
animals donated by America Responds With Love.
17. The Upper Merion Township Police Department was one of the recipients of teddy bears
and other stuffed animals from America Responds With Love. Officer Harry M.
Nuskey (left) and Officer Chris Dolga (right) are seen here receiving stuffed animals
from Ms. Kathy Smith, Marketing Manager at the King of Prussia Mall.
“For years, we have been giving teddy bears to children who are involved in incidents
that are sometimes overwhelming and frightening,” explained Officer Nuskey of the
Community Response Unit for the Department. “The Upper Merion Police Department
is grateful to America Responds With Love for giving us the opportunity to help ease
the fears of a child during these times.”
18. Frank Burke of the Veterans Multi-Service Center is seen here with a few of the stuffed
animals – including a teddy bear decked out in Philadelphia Eagles garb – donated by
America Responds With Love to help military veterans and their families in Chester
County and elsewhere in eastern and central Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, and
Delaware.
19. “The donation of the stuffed animals to the Veterans Multi Service Center has afforded us
the opportunity to assist our veterans and their families to ease the transition of new
housing and stabilization,” stated Mr. Burke. “The stuffed animals, especially for the
children, hopefully give them a sense of comfort during stressful times and would put
smiles on their faces. I thank America Responds With Love for the donation and the
passion in the work of the organization.”
America Responds With Love donated a number of stuffed animals for use by the
Hospice Program of the Visiting Nurse Association of Berks County and the Visiting
Nurse Association of Pottstown & Vicinity.
“Berks VNA and the VNA of Pottstown & Vicinity are so grateful for the stuffed animals
from the America Responds With Love,” stated Ms. Whitney Venus, Director of Fund
and Business Development for this Bucks County-based organization. “The donated
stuffed animals will be used for the families of our clients who are using our hospice
services. Bereavement services are just as important to us as the hospice services
themselves, and the stuffed animals will help make a hard time just a little bit easier for
the families.”
20. Chief Michael Sinclair of the West Conshohocken Police Department holds two of a
number of stuffed animals donated by America Responds With Love to this
Montgomery County community.
21. “I have been with the Department for 15 years and have been a volunteer firefighter for
33 years,” stated Officer Andrew Carlin of the West Conshohocken Borough Police
Department. “I think it is a wonderful thing what America Responds With Love is
doing. We will be able to use these teddy bears and other stuffed animals! We greatly
appreciate each and every stuff animal we receive.”
“I feel these teddy bears would be extremely helpful when we receive calls where
children are involved,” Officer Carlin continued. “They would assist us in calming and
comforting a child when they’re in the middle of a scary situation. When children are
involved in traumatic events - like a car crash or domestic violence incidents - it can be
overwhelming. These bears can helps us build a connection with the child, enabling us to
help them feel safe and protected while we’re around.”
“Although stuffed animals may seem like a small gesture to some, they can be an
uplifting and soothing gift to a child going through a difficult situation,” concluded
Officer Carlin.
22. Participating Individuals and Schools
A number of individuals and schools participated in the Respond With Love Teddy Bear
Drive at the King of Prussia Mall. The Lacrosse Team of The Haverford School
collected teddy bears from students, families, and friends. The Service Club of the
Springfield Township Middle School in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, also donated
teddy bears and other stuffed animals to America Responds With Love. People who
work at the King of Prussia Mall as well as shoppers and visitors to the King of Prussia
Mall also participated in this civic event. Some individuals donated teddy bears and
other stuffed animals. Others sponsored individual stuffed animals to be donated to
people truly in need.
23. Mr. Peter Olsho of the Springfield Township Middle School in Montgomery County,
Pennsylvania, is here with stuffed animals donated by students at school as part of the
Respond With Love Teddy Bear Drive. He is an 8th
Grade Science Teacher as well as
the Service Club Advisor at this school in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
24. A variety of teddy bears, monkeys, and other stuffed animals
were donated by students at the Springfield Township Middle School.
25. “We are more than happy to help. Our lacrosse program is known
for producing great players but we want to be known as being great people.
We are happy to help out in any way that we can. Thank you for
giving us the opportunity to participate in this drive.”
The entire Lacrosse Team at The Haverford School participated in the Respond With
Love Teddy Bear Drive at the King of Prussia Mall. Pictured above with some of the
stuffed animals donated by students, family members, and friends are Mr. Luke
Desperito, Mr. Grant Ament, Mr. Evan Haas, Mr. Payton Hollway, Mr. Sam Denious,
Mr. John Nostrant, and Mr. Henry Cordisco. Other members of the team included Mr.
Shane McBride, Mr. Tucker McBride, Mr. Forry Smith, Mr. Josh Hoefner, Mr. Chris
Maguire, Mr. Will Towle, Mr. T.J. Malone, Mr. Luke O’Grady, Mr. Scott Deck, Mr.
Tyler Burt, Mr. Tim Carlson, Mr. Drew Supinski, Mr. Phil Poquie, Mr. Brandon Shima,
Mr. Brendan Jacob, Mr. Lane Odom, Mr. Colin Bosak, Mr. Jake Hervada, Mr. Brian
Casey, Mr. Peter Rohr, Mr. Dox Aitken, Mr. Brendan O’Neill, Mr. Jack Marshall, Mr.
Keyveat Postell, Mr. Alec Haas, Mr. Austin Helms, Mr. Conner Mosebrook, Mr. Ryan
Jacob, Mr. Max Brooks, Mr. Remy Smith, Mr. Frankie D’Angelo, Mr. Ethan Masucci,
Mr. Gee Smith, Mr. Mbogo Mwangi, Mr. Jack Denious, Mr. Graham Haabestad, Mr.
Matt Tucker, Mr. Jackson Spahr, Mr. Noah Lejman, Mr. Jack Doran, Mr. Niles Easley,
Mr. Ben Euler, Mr. Miller Joyce, Mr. Connor Atkins, Mr. Andrew Westby, Mr. Andrew
Fine, Mr. Frankie Spitz, Mr. Billy Holmes, Mr. Ed Garno, Mr. Chris Morrison, Mr. Chris
Hervada, Mr. Evan Scott, Mr. Fred Hammer, Mr. Charlie Cordisco, Mr. Jack Costello,
Mr. Aiden Mantelmacher, Mr. Tucker Desperito, Mr. Ed King, Mr. Logan Atkins, Mr.
Alex deMarco, Mr. Seamus Glavin, Mr. Parker Henderer, Mr. Harrison Felheimer, Mr.
Colin Moran, Mr. Charlie Lesco, Mr. Nico Tellez, and Mr. Ryan Sanfilippo.
26. Members of the Lacrosse Team of The Haverford School helped write and attach Notes
of Love to stuffed animals. Participants included (below, from left) Mr. Jack Denious,
Mr. Henry Cordisco, Mr. Will Towle, Mr. Conner Mosebrook, and Mr. Evan Haas as
well as Mr. Billy Holmes (above).
27. Mr. Alec Haas (above) and Mr. Evan Scott (below), members of the Lacrosse Team at
The Haverford School, are seen here preparing Note of Loves for stuffed animals.
28. Members of the Lacrosse Team at The Haverford School brought a variety of teddy bears
and other stuffed animals to the Respond With Love Teddy Bear Drive, including Mr.
Shane McBride, Mr. Tucker McBride, Mr. Brandon Shima, Mr. Jack Doran, Mr. Lane
Odom, Mr. Logan Atkins, Mr. Connor Atkins, and Mr. Peter Rohr.
29.
30.
31. Mr. Trevor Seufer and Ms. Kate Funk sponsored teddy bears at the
Respond With Love Teddy Bear Drive.
32.
33. Mr. Connor Wolfe is seen here holding a monkey from America Responds With Love.
He visited the Respond With Love Teddy Bear Drive with his aunt, Ms. Kim Wolfe, and
his cousin, Ms. Kailey Greenberg. The family is from the Souderton/Telford Area.
34. Mr. Adam Boyer is seen here as he prepared a Note of Love to go with his sponsored
stuffed animal at the Respond With Love Teddy Bear Drive. Mr. Boyer attends
Villanova University Law School and is from York Springs in Adams County.
35.
36. Ms. Melanie Solano, left, a kindergarten teacher at Rainbow Elementary School in
Coatesville, volunteered to help at the Respond With Love Teddy Bear Drive.
37. Marlene and Don Bieber were among individuals who sponsored teddy bears and other
stuffed animals at the Respond With Love Teddy Bear Drive at the King of Prussia
Mall.
38. A number of comfort pillows were displayed at the Respond With Love Teddy Bear
Drive at the King of Prussia Mall. These comfort pillows were initially sent to the Town
of Newtown in Connecticut following the tragedy in that community. America
Responds With Love worked with the Town of Newtown to relocate thousands of teddy
bears, stuffed animals, and comfort pillows that had been donated for that community.
Comfort pillows were used to help people truly in need in Alabama, Colorado, Delaware,
New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
39. Mr. Paul Hwang and Ms. Margaret Park, both from the City of New York, helped
sponsor teddy bears as part of the Respond With Love Teddy Bear Drive at the King of
Prussia Mall.
40. A number of retailers and service providers at the King of Prussia Mall supported the
Respond With Love Teddy Bear Drive. Among the supporters were Aerie, Aveda,
Bailey Banks & Biddle, Brighton Collectibles, The Cheesecake Factory, Dandelion,
Francesca’s, Godiva, Gymboree, Helzberg Diamonds, Kay Jewelers, Learning Express,
Long & Foster, Monsoon, Norman’s Hallmark Gold Crown, Pandora, and Zales.
41. Aerie encouraged customers and visitors to participate in the Respond With Love Teddy
Bear Drive at the King of Prussia Mall. Among those supporting these community
efforts are, from left, Ms. Ailey Potter, Sales Associate; Ms. Kristina Bowman, Key
Holder; and Ms. Liz Salinas, Sales Associate.
42. Ms. Ria Adderley, Store Manager of the Aveda Experience Center at the King of Prussia
Mall, helped support the Respond With Love Teddy Bear Drive. Customers who
brought a teddy bear or other stuffed animal to Aveda were able to receive a
complimentary hair service.
43. Bailey Banks & Biddle supported the Respond With Love Teddy Bear Drive at the King
of Prussia Mall. Pictured here are Ms. Carolyn Capistrano, Sales Consultant, and Mr.
Mark Pletcher, Assistant Manager.
44. Ms. Deann Dry, Ms. Molly Reese, Ms. Janet Milakeve, Ms. Allison Sohoski, and Ms.
Mary Rapp of Brighton Collectibles supported the Respond With Love Teddy Bear
Drive at the King of Prussia. Both Ms. Dry and Ms. Rapp donated a variety of stuffed
animals to America Responds With Love.
45. The Cheesecake Factory at the King of Prussia donated a number of stuffed animals to
America Responds With Love. Presenting the stuffed animals were, from left, Mr.
Brian Parente, Senior Manager, and Mr. Scott Fisher, General Manager, at The
Cheesecake Factory.
46. Dandelion was one of several stores that supported the Respond With Love Teddy Bear
Drive. Pictured here are Ms. Stephanie McNeeley, Store Manager, and Ms. Danielle
Fasano, Sales Associate.
47. FedEx Office in King of Prussia helped support the Respond With Love Teddy Bear by
printing initial note cards provided to retailers at the King of Prussia Mall.
48. Godiva donated a number of stuffed animals (above) as part of the Respond With Love
Teddy Bear Drive at the King of Prussia Mall.
49. Helzberg Diamonds donated dozens of stuffed animals to America Responds With
Love. The non-profit organization used these stuffed animals to help comfort children
and others truly in need throughout the Delaware Valley and beyond.
50. Kay Jewelers in Exton, King of Prussia, and Springfield donated stuffed animals to
America Responds With Love. A number of these stuffed animals were donated to help
comfort children and others truly in need by the non-profit organization.
51. Kaitlin, a Sales Associate at Learning Express, is seen here combing out the hair of a
stuffed dog to help prepare the stuffed animal for the Respond With Love Teddy Bear
Drive.
52. Ms. Alex Daley (left) and Ms. Cathy Daloisio were two of the Sales Associates at
Norman’s Hallmark Gold Crown Store who helped support the Respond With Love
Teddy Bear Drive at the King of Prussia Mall.
53. Pandora supported the Respond With Love Teddy Bear Drive at the King of Prussia
Mall. Among those participating were, from left, Yaya, Shadirah, Ariel, and Althea.
54. News Media and Social Media Coverage
Several news stories were broadcast and printed detailing the Respond With Love Teddy
Bear Drive at the King of Prussia Mall, including news coverage by The Coatesville
Times of Coatesville, FOX 29 of Philadelphia, The Times Herald of Norristown, and
WCHE 1520 AM of West Chester. In addition, a number of Facebook and other social
media sites detailed this civic event,
