This 9-Year-Old Is Making The Holidays Brighter For Hundreds Of Sick Children

December 2, 2025

In central Ohio, a big-hearted 9-year-old is on a mission to make the holidays brighter, one teddy bear at a time. Jack has turned his family’s home into what he lovingly calls “Teddy Bear HQ,” and the place is overflowing with plush smiles.

Jack's Bravery Bears / Photo: GoFundMe

In just one month, Jack has gathered hundreds of stuffed bears that he plans to donate to young patients spending the holidays at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. His mission has a name too — Jack’s Bravery Bears — because he hopes each child who receives one feels just a little bit braver.

“It all started when our family volunteered last year making blankets for kids at Nationwide,” he explained. While helping out, Jack suddenly had a thought: Wouldn’t the kids love a teddy bear to go with their blanket? That simple idea turned into his first teddy bear drive, where he collected an impressive 445 bears.

This year, he’s aiming even higher with a goal of 500 bears.

Neighbors, church friends, classmates, and community members have all jumped in to help. Bags and boxes of bears continue rolling in, filling Teddy Bear HQ to the brim.

But Jack says the best part isn’t the growing pile of plush toys — it’s imagining how much joy each one will bring.

“They’re going to be so happy,” he said with a smile.

Later this month, Jack and his family will deliver the bears to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, hoping to brighten the holidays for kids who could really use a boost.

For anyone wanting to join Jack’s mission, his GoFundMe is helping purchase more of the custom “Jack’s Bravery Bears.” Every dollar, his family says, helps “place a bear — and a bit of joy — into the arms of a child who needs it most.”