P R E S S     R E L E A S E

Cubs for Kids is an organization started out of a love of children and a love of knitting.  The purpose of the organization is to allow knitters to use their craft and left over yarn to create something that a child less fortunate would treasure forever.

In 1998, Cubs For Kids stated when, Arlene Comora donated $500 from her personal business to buy 100 bear cubs.   In early 1999 a not-for-profit was formed with a grant of $2000 to buy the bears needed.  Several knitting publications advertised the project and knitters from all over the country joined in the efforts to provide a bear cub in hand knitted clothing to be sent to homeless shelters where children were in need.  When the sweaters started coming in quite rapidly, additional funds were needed and several foundations, corporations and individuals provided their financial support.

Over the past seven years Cubs For Kids has developed into thriving organization and has provided more than 5,500 bear cubs to homeless children across the country. This past holiday with the help of our knitters and volunteers we shipped over 1,150 dressed bear cubs. Cubs for Kids provides the bear cub and a pattern for the sweater, hat and scarf.  Knitters provide their creativity and extra yarn.  Completed outfits are then collected and in early December, the cubs are dressed, gift-wrapped and delivered to the homeless shelters.  Over the past seven years more than 45 shelters across the country have received these bear cubs dressed in hand knit clothing. Our organization is dependent on the large data base of knitters that generously provide us with the clothing for these bear cubs, the donations that provide us with the funds needed for the purchase of these bear cubs and the shipping to the shelters which takes place in early December.  Wonderful volunteers donate their talents to dressing the bears and provide all of the other services needed to run Cubs For Kids.  Fortistar and their staff at no cost provide all of our office needs which help run Cubs For Kids.

Knitting shops including Lee’s Yarn, Bedford Hills, NY, Goldman’s Yarn, White Plains, NY, Patternworks, The Whippletree, Woodstock, VT, The Yarn Loft, Sparta, NJ, Wool ‘n Words, West Sand Lake, NY, Hook ‘n Needle, Columbia, So. Carolina and The Wool Connection, Avon, CT have supported this project. The Yarn Council of America, Vogue Knitting, Knitters Magazine, Interweave Knits, Arts & Crafts, and The Knitting Guild of America have also provided invaluable support for this project. Most important has been the support from volunteer knitters who are sending in sweaters, hats and scarves for the bear cubs all year long.  We have received sweaters from knitters in over 44 states. Knitting Guilds, senior citizen groups, 4-H groups, church groups and individual knitters make up these numbers.

Our goal in 2005 is to donate 1,500 Cubs for Kids. To do this we will need more sponsors and more knitters.   We will shortly be contacting additional knitting organizations and yarn shops for their support.

If you wish to join in this effort, please send a self addressed stamped envelope to Cubs For Kids, One North Lexington Avenue, White Plains, New York 10601. If you have any questions regarding this project you can call Arlene Comora (914) 421-4916 or check our web site at www.cubsforkids.com for updates and information.