Mission

OLIVIA'S BEARS IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, CREATED BY OLIVIA GONYEA AND HER FAMILY IN 2009. OLIVIA WAS DIAGNOSED WITH EWINGS SARCOMA, A FORM OF BONE CANCER, IN 2009 AT THE AGE OF EIGHT. AS OF OCTOBER 1ST, 2010, OLIVIA HAS BEEN CANCER-FREE. BEFORE OLIVIA'S TREATMENT ENDED, SHE WANTED TO FIND A WAY TO START GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. TOUCHED BY THE GIFT OF A BUILD- A-BEAR THAT SHE RECEIVED BEFORE GOING INTO ONE OF HER SURGERIES, SHE DECIDED SHE WANTED TO START DELIVERING BEARS TO OTHER CHILDREN RECEIVING MEDICAL TREATMENT AT CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL. WITH THE HELP OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY, OLIVIA'S BEARS STARTED WITH A SMALL DELIVERY OF 20 BEARS. NOW 14 YEARS LATER, OVER A THOUSAND BEARS HAVE BEEN DELIVERED TO CHILDREN AND THEIR SIBLINGS.