Local girls build teddy bears for less fortunate children

PRESS RELEASE DATE: DECEMBER 19, 2008

After five years of building and accumulating Build-A-Bear Workshop teddy bears, Destiny and Jade Neumann decided to donate part of their collection this holiday season.

The sisters decided to give up 37 of their handmade teddy bears, valued anywhere from $25 to $50 a piece that they paid for with money saved from doing chores around the house, to less fortunate children.

Adopted by William and Sheilah Neumann, of Stuart, Destiny, 11, and Jade, 10, were forced to go through a grueling 18-month custody battle at a very young age, during which residents of the community supported the sisters by donating toys and Build-A-Bear Workshop gift cards.

Touched by the community’s random acts of kindness, Destiny and Jade wanted to return the favor, so they adopted two families in need of Christmas presents from the United Way of Martin County agency Tykes and Teens.

Destiny and Jade saw to it that each child, seven in one family and five and the other, received one handmade teddy bear for Christmas.

The remaining teddy bears were donated to Martin County Fire Rescue Station No. 23’s Toys for Tots toy drive benefiting the White Doves Holiday Project, an initiative of Martin Volunteers, a program of United Way of Martin County.

“When we were adopted, people gave us toys and Build-A-Bear Workshop gift cards, so we wanted to help other children the same way we were helped,” Jade said.

“Destiny and I are always reminded by our principal, Mr. (Lawrence) Green, to live by the Seawind Elementary motto, ‘Believe, achieve and succeed,’ which is why we think it’s so important to help others in need.”

For more information about United Way of Martin County, the White Doves Holiday Project, Martin Volunteers or Toys for Tots, visit www.martinvolunteers.org or call (772) 220-4472.