‘Adopt a Bear’ is back for 13th year

Mid Oregon Credit Union is happy to announce their 13 th year in support of Healthy Beginnings Adopt – a – Bear campaign.

In 2004, Mid Oregon’s CEO, Bill Anderson, and Healthy Beginnings Executive Director, Holly Remer provided a perfect solution to a fundraising dilemma with a creative campaign called ” Adopt – a – Bear “. The colorful “teddy bear ” became the vehicle to expand community awareness and provide needed revenue.

Mid Oregon Credit Union staff and members ” adopt ” bears with their donations to Healthy Beginnings and the die-cut bears become the “wallpaper” at all their branches in Bend, Redmond, Madras, Prineville, La Pine and Sisters during the weeks of April 3 through 21, 2017. The campaign efforts have raised more than $22,000 to date.

Healthy Beginnings provides no cost health and developmental screenings to preschool children in our communities ensuring they are ready to learn when they enter kindergarten. The state has identified universal community screenings as best practice, providing consistent, reliable, valid, evidence based screening for young children – but there is no state funding. For the past 23 years, Healthy Beginnings relies on community donations to keep their screenings free for all families who utilize their services. Healthy Beginnings serves nearly 1,000 children and families each year in Bend, Redmond, La Pine, Madras, Prineville, Sisters and Sunriver.

Community residents may make a donation to Healthy Beginnings at any Mid Oregon Credit Union location, or you can call 541-382-1795 . For information about child screenings go to www.MyHB.org . Healthy Beginnings is a “21 Cares for Kids” partner.

Mid Oregon Credit Union is a full-service, member-owned, financial cooperative that has served Central Oregonians since 1957 . With well over 26,000 members in Deschutes, Jefferson, Crook, Wheeler, Lake, and North Klamath Counties, Mid Oregon Credit Union is helping members meet their financial needs and dreams. For more information about Mid Oregon Credit Union services and branch locations in Bend, Redmond, Madras, Prineville, La Pine and Sisters, please visit www.midoregon.com .

Also, Bend’s Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop located next to the movie theaters in the Old Mill Shopping District (680 SW Powerhouse Dr) continues the long-standing tradition of Free Cone Day as a way of saying thanks and giving back to the community with free cones for all from noon – 8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 4 th .

Celebrity Scoopers this year include: County Commissioner Tammy Baney, Bend City Council Member Sally Russell, local comedians Chelsea Woodmansee and Brent Bidot, NewsChannel 21 newscasters Alex Biston, Michaela Beecham, and Danette Schlapfer, radio personalities Lisa Carton, Dave Clemens and Tracee Tuesday and local entertainers Janelle and Jake are scheduled throughout the event.

“We are excited for 2017, and want to be the best we can be at making our customers happy, and we are very excited to be sharing Ben & Jerry’s amazing Ice Cream with the community!” stated Kimi Smith, the store manager.

Healthy Beginnings is partnering with Ben and Jerry’s in support of the health and well-being of young children in our community. Representatives from Healthy Beginnings will also be present to describe our services and answer questions. Donations will be accepted with all proceeds from this event dedicated to assisting kids and families in your community ensuring that every child has a healthy beginning.