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What is The Easter Bunny Foundation |
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The Easter Bunny Foundation started in Orlando, Florida in
1995, and for the last twelve years, The Easter Bunny has
hip-hopped around on Easter Sunday to visit children in
hospitals in Central Florida. 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 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 was able to visit more than 2600 children. We were pleased to accept fifteen new sheriff's offices bringing our total participation to twenty-one sheriffs, who visited a combined total of thirty-seven 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 an 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. With so many exciting changes and so much positive expansion, we are truly looking forward to the continued growth of The Easter Bunny Foundation in 2009. Any interested Sheriff or Hospital who would like to help or can help spread the word is greatly appreciated.
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