What is The Easter Bunny Foundation
The Easter Bunny Foundation has been hip-hopping around to visit children in the hospital during the week of Easter since 1995. The foundation originated in Central Florida and has expanded to include cities and towns throughout more than half of the United States, as well as over the big blue ocean and into England.
Easter 2003, The Easter Bunny Foundation joined forces with Orange County Sheriff Kevin Beary in an attempt to recruit other county Sheriffs to help spread the smiles across the state of Florida. With the cooperation of our new friends, we were able to hip-hop to nine children's hospitals in 7 counties across the state, visiting over one thousand children.
2004 was a tremendous year! In our first year of national expansion The Easter Bunny Foundation more than doubled its participants, and our furry friend was able to visit more than 2,600 children. We were pleased to accept 15 new sheriff's offices bringing our total participation to 21 sheriffs, who visited a combined total of 37 children's hospitals or pediatric wards across the country.
It seems as though each year brings more exciting changes! As of April 2005, the Easter Bunny, with the help of 46 sheriffs in 25 states, hip-hopped to visit roughly 5,500 children in over 78 different Children's hospitals, pediatric wards, and medical facilities. The Easter Bunny distributed a new plush toy to each child visited, as well as a fun-filled coloring book and 4-pack of Crayola crayons. Each Sheriff added his or her own personal touch by distributing stickers, badges, or safety coloring books. Some even made baskets!
Also in 2005: The Easter Bunny Foundation was officially endorsed by the National Sheriffs' Association, and the program founders Eleanor and Sam Meiner, along with their Executive Assistant to the Easter Bunny, Khira Williams, were sworn in as Honorary Deputy Sheriffs of Orange County, Florida! In 2006, we were pleased to work with 81 county sheriff's offices in 30 states! We visited approximately 9,000 children, and we launched a United Kingdom division in London. 2007 was truly exciting, as the Easter Bunny hip-hopped to over 14,000 children with the help from 112 sheriffs' offices in 36 states, and in 2008, the big bunny and his friends visited 16,000 hospitalized children throughout the United States and United Kingdom!
2009 brought a major change to tradition in Orange County. In January, we said goodbye to our dear and faithful friend, Kevin Beary, as he retired from the Office of Orange County Sheriff, and we said hello to our new friend Sheriff Jerry Demings. We were more than excited to have him continue the relationship between The Easter Bunny Foundation and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. He attended and assisted with the distribution of our new plush bunnies, and he made the day for a quite a few youngsters in the hospital. Thanks Sheriff Demings!
We are truly looking forward to the continued growth of The Easter Bunny Foundation, but we need your help... every dollar helps. So please consider The Easter Bunny Foundation when making your annual charitable contributions, and help us bring a joyous moment to a hospitalized child. Any interested civilians, Sheriffs or Hospitals who would like to help or who can help spread the word is greatly appreciated.
Thank You All and Happy Easter
Sam and Eleanor Meiner6319 Gibson Drive
Orlando, FL 32809
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