On Tuesday, a group of Tampa Bay Buccaneers paid a special visit to some local children who were in need of support.
In conjunction with the Glazer Family Foundation's "Cheering You On!" program, Buccaneer players E.J. Biggers and Keith Tandy, as well as several Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders, delivered teddy bears to the children in the Pediatric Activity Room at Tampa General Hospital.
During the visit, the Buccaneer guests also participated in an arts and crafts session with the patients, connecting with the young children in a creative activity that helped raise everyone's spirits. Tandy eagerly took part, knowing that even a few minutes spent with a child who is suffering can have a significant impact on the mood and mindset of all involved.
"Any time that you can help them out, give them extra motivation or brighten their day, that always gives you a good feeling," he said.
Through the Cheering You On! program, the Glazer Family Foundation has distributed more than 450,000 Buccaneer bears to children admitted to hospitals throughout Central Florida. The Foundation, which has been delivering the teddy bears for more than a decade, believes these simple gifts can make the hospital process a bit more cheerful for the young patients.
Ellen Fiss, public relations manager for the hospital, believes such a gift can be relaxing to children under stress.
"A teddy bear is a very comforting item," Fiss said. "Sometimes it is the first thing that they get to take hold of and it brings a lot of comfort and joy to their stay here at the hospital."
Biggers, who is known for his own wide smile, was happy to help bring cheer to the hospital's young patients.
"To put a smile on a child's face, it brightens up everybody's day," Biggers said.
The Glazer Family Foundation always enjoys hearing stories from parents whose child has received a teddy bear through the "Cheering You On!" program. If your child has ever received a Buccaneers teddy bear during a hospital visit, the Foundation would love to hear how it has affected your child's experience. Please click here or visit the "Cheering You On!" section of GlazerFamilyFoundation.org to share your story.
