Napleshugs Chapter
Hugs Across America – Southwest Florida Chapter
Michael Brauer
888-444-7925 ext 510
900 Sixth Ave South, Suite 204
Naples, FL 34102
Michael Brauer
Update: Februaury, 2010
The Cheese Cake Factory donated over 300 bears to Hugs. Hugs has in turned distributed them to http://www.naplesshelter.org. They are a shelter for abused women and children in the Naples area. They were very excited about receiving the bears. I went on a tour of the shelter and they were very appreciative. They receive funding from the Naples Wine Festival, which is attended by many stars such as Regis Philbin. The Wine Festival supports charities in south west Florida for children. So Hugs is in very good company. I told them we would work with them on a continuing basis. We unfortunately were not allowed to take photos. In fact the facility location is not even published because of the nature of the support.
Update: September, 2007
A friend of the Brauers, Jason, was diagnosed with Leukemia recently. The community held a benefit for him to help pay some of the medical bills. About 300 people showed up to the event. Hugs helped sponsor it in an effort to help Jason and help spread the word about Hugs. It was a great success. See picture from the event below.
The Brauers also made some contacts of organizations that would like to help with Hugs. Next month they are going to be at a fair being held by the Southwest Florida Foster Care Council . Hugs is providing 200 bears for the event. The Brauers have already and will continue to provide the Foster Care Council with bears. Through the benefit with Jason and the contacts they made, they were able to get Hanes to donate 200 T-shirts.
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Napleshugs Chapter of Hugs Across America has been developed in honor of Robert Brauer, father of Michael.
Bears will be placed in pediatric and other medical offices throughout this extensive practice. (We have offices all over Naples).
A few of the teddies will have a small container for change to help in their purchase, and all passersby will be given an opportunity to donate a new, 10″ – 14″ teddy bear, as well. We are all very excited and look forward to providing bears for many, many frightened and anxious children who are in need of hugs.
The Naples Fire Dept. was given a round of bears. The chiefs are all being notified and we’re working on a press release. Bears are being carried on the trucks and will be given out when the firemen respond to calls.
This was in the Naples Daily News .
We’ve received donations from various offices throughout my company, and this letter has brought donations of money and stuffed animals.
We are working on many different ideas for getting bears and distributing them throughout the community.
