Antigua – Throughout the month of December, an organization called HERO HOUSE in Antigua is offering caring individuals and corporate sponsors the chance to bring Christmas joy to some of the most disadvantaged children throughout the Caribbean – children whose lives have also been affected by everything from hurricanes to violence or abuse.
Individuals who purchase a teddy bear at any Caribbean Star or Sun ticket counter, or one of many participating Caribbean travel agencies between December 2nd and 23rd, will ensure that an identical, adorable teddy bear to be donated to a child on one of twelve different Caribbean islands.
HERO HOUSE is organizing parties for the children on each island, where they’ll receive the teddy bears and have a chance to meet Santa.
HERO HOUSE
The “Share the Gift” program originated as an idea at HERO HOUSE, a residential facility on the island of Antigua for families in crisis. Year-round, HERO offers “bill-free,” short-term accommodations for families, during which time they are taught life skills like budgeting, parenting, job training, and more. In addition, every summer, HERO House provides children’s camps and invites volunteers from around the world to work as counselors.
R. Allen Stanford, chairman of Stanford Financial Group as well as founder and principal benefactor of HERO House and owner of Caribbean Sun and Star Airlines, gladly offered his ticket counters as points-of-sale for the teddy bears. David Socha, owner and president of the Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Company and a member of the HERO House International board of directors since 1999, donated the toys, valued at US$150,000; Seaboard Marine helped defray the shipping costs of the bears.
The South Florida Caribbean community can donate a teddy bear to these deserving children. For more information on this program visit their web-site, www.heroantigua.com or by calling 268-464-0281.
