Spinoza was created as a healing gift of love. The "buddy bear project" was created for people to extend hope and encouragement to children in their communities.

Spinoza is a powerful form of therapy that benefits children throughout their lives. Spinoza also provides families with an effective tool for facilitating communication in a time of uncertainty or loss.

Who is the 'buddy bear project' for?
How does Spinoza help children?
How do I participate?

How does Spinoza help children?
A special education teacher and a communication specialist created Spinoza in 1984. They envisioned a soft, huggable bear that spoke and sang from the heart. The unique songs and stories that are played inside of Spinoza’s internal tape player provide the listenerwith words of encouragement, comfort, self-esteem, and friendship. All of these things combine to create a very magical bear.

The Spinoza Company was founded in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The "buddy bear project"was created in 1994 out of a desire to provide every child who is in a challenging situation or crisis with a constant, inspirational companion.

A few ways that Spinoza helps children:

• The combination of healing music and storytelling with the tactile comfort of a soft teddy bear, helps a child bond to Spinoza.
• Spinoza provides effective distraction when children are faced with scary situations such as a hospital treatment or loss of a loved one.
• The uniqueness of Spinoza’s special stories and songs helps children with interaction, communication and a healthy expression of themselves.

How does Spinoza and his tapes provide therapy for children?

Two of Spinoza’s tapes, Breathing Healthy, Breathing Free and New Beginnings, were co-created with the Central Ohio Breathing Association and teach effective breathing techniques which help pain management. For some children, the results are reduced medications as well as a means of coping with the pain they may suffer daily. One of the tapes includes a special segment on asthma.

In what ways can Spinoza benefit the child's family?
One of the hardest things any parent can ever face is to have their child diagnosed with a threatening illness. There are no words to describe the helplessness they feel when they know their child's life may end before their own. The tape Hold On To Me, was developed not only to bring comfort to the children but to the parents and family as well.

Siblings of chronically ill children face their own set of challenges as family life is disrupted and their relationships with their parents and brother or sister change. Spinoza's messages and positive words help families to communicate their feelings in this difficult time.

Spinoza continues to be a tool of hope, encouragement, and unconditional love even after a child has passed away. Many children record personal messages to their family members and friends on a separate tape recorder. These tapes played in Spinoza create a cherished gift that no one can take away. Families who have lost a loved one feel drawn towards Spinoza because they know he was once something their child bonded with and loved and by keeping Spinoza close at hand, they feel closer to their child.

How do I participate in the "buddy bear project"?

First, you should determine...
Do you want to sponsor a child you have chosen?
You may sponsor children that you know of, such as children from your members’ families or other children in the community. This provides an opportunity for your members to make a personal delivery or presentation. If the child is well enough and the family is comfortable with it, you may invite them to a meeting for a special presentation. This is a good opportunity for your group to receive publicity.

Do you want the "buddy bear project" staff to find a child?
The "buddy bear project" staff coordinators have established relationships with child life specialists, nurses, doctors, social workers, child protection workers, and other professionals nation wide who letthem knowwho could benefit from having theirown Spinoza Bear. Due to confidentiality, "Kids Lists" only have the first name, age, diagnosis and hometown of the children. If you choose this method of sponsorship, the bear is shipped directly to the child.

If you would like to personally deliver Spinoza to the child the ‘bbp’ staff have chosen, the ‘bbp’ coordinators will determine if the family feels comfortable with this. We cannot guarantee you will be able to deliver Spinoza to the child.

Second, print Sponsor Form and mail or fax to Spinoza's 'buddy bear project'

You can expedite the order by calling us at 1-800-282-2327 with a credit card.

The ‘buddy bear project’ staff can provide you with a variety of ideas concerning fundraising, publicity, and creating a project thatworks for you and the needs of your club or organization. The annual newsletter, Spinoza Speaks, gives public recognition to sponsors of 5 or more children.

Need help? Call us toll free at 1-800-282-2327 or .

The following PDF files (Adobe Acrobat required) provide more information about Spinoza's "buddy bear project" :

"buddy bear project" Question & Answer Brochure for Sponsors

"buddy bear project" Question &Answer Brochure for Facilities 

The current issue of our newsletter: "Spinoza Speaks"

We also provide handy online forms to help enroll in Spinoza's "buddy bear project":

Online Enrollment Form for Facilities

Online Enrollment Form for Parents

For more information about Spinoza's "buddy bear project"
please call 1-800-282-2327 and ask for your state coordinator.