Be A Friend Program
Build a Friend, Make a Friend, Be a Friend.
A stuffed animal may seem small, but to a child facing uncertainty, medical treatments, or other difficult situations, it’s a source of comfort, love, and - more importantly - a friend to help face their current life circumstances. Through the Be A Friend Program, youth in our partner organizations create stuffed animals—one to keep, one to give—spreading friendship and joy where it’s needed most.
About the Program
The Be A Friend Program is a unique initiative centered around recognizing and empowering children and teens within our current partner organizations. This program enables them to create a friend to join them on all their life adventures AND make a friend to be a friend to a child or teen in need—a simple, yet powerful, act of kindness. This hands-on experience recognizes and empowers the attendees while bringing comfort to children unable to attend the event.
Total Program Impact
3
Events
356
Stuffed Animals Made
356
Kids Impacted
How It Started
In 2019 we had the opportunity to do a service project alongside CAST, Build-A-Bear, and other partner organizations. During this event, we discovered the power of youth and adults creating something together to give to someone in need. Many of the individuals who participated that day talked fondly about the event well after it occurred. In addition, we heard positive feedback from connections in our partner organizations that gave out the stuffed animals to youth facing difficult situations.
After a brief pause and lots of dreaming, we launched a pilot program in 2023 called "Be A Friend." We invited Pathway Caring for Children to bring youth to the Hall of Fame Village Build-A-Bear to participate in building two friends—one to keep and one to give to a child at Akron Children's Hospital. We were joined by local entities such as USFL cheerleaders, GOLDY the GOAT, Starbucks, and Visit Canton. It was a day focused on the participating youth, while also asking them to give back. The smiles, laughter, and joy that day were contagious, so we knew we had to continue the program and build upon it in coming years.
The following year, we worked with Project KARE to scale the program from 37 to 50 youth at the same Hall of Fame Village Build-A-Bear. We were joined by mascots GOLDY the GOAT, Bearemy, Andy the Armadillo from Texas Roadhouse, and shops Heggy’s Nut Shop, SMOOSH Cookie, and Pizza Oven—businesses that had since moved into the area. The Pro Football Hall of Fame allowed use of the small field below the shops for Stark County JFS to set up field games. In addition, the Hall of Fame Village allowed us to fill their walkways with bubbles. It was truly an incredible day to remember!
Our mission has always been about providing toys. This initiative takes our mandate to the next level by empowering the youth who usually receive our donations to become a part of the giving. This makes the impact of a simple toy greater on both sides of the equation.
2025 Sponsors
CHAMPION SPONSORS
