How Build a Bear Day got its start . . .

 

My name is Laura Kowalczyk. I am the Founder of  Build-A-Bear day. I had an idea to take "Dyman" to a Build-A-Bear store to have a fun day making a teddy bear. Then I thought, I'm going to raise some money and take all the kids on dialysis. That's how it all started. On this day I arrange for the kids on dialyisis at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida and at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital to go to a Build-A-Bear store one day a year in April which is DONATE LIFE MONTH to have a fun day making their own stuffed animal that they can take to dialysis for comfort at no cost to them.