5th Annual Build a Bear Unites Children with Visual Impairment and Sighted Buddies

On August 21 at 9:00 a.m., the Build a Bear at Del Amo Fashion Center opened two hours early to welcome children with vision loss and their families receiving services from Partners for Pediatric Vision. Thanks to Vistas for Children, Inc. and sighted peers from Junior Vista’s, 11 children receiving services from Partners for Pediatric Vision created unique bears and new friendships. Each child with visual impairment from Partners for Pediatric Vision was paired up with a Junior Vistas volunteer who guided them to each station in order to create their very own Build a Bear. The Junior Vistas described each experience including details about the clothing and accessories and helped their visually impaired friend dress their bear and choose a name. By the end of the event, there were brightly dressed superhero bears, ballerina bears, Dodger bears and abundant smiles and hugs. Everyone was touched by the unique opportunity to bring low vision and sighted children together in the spirit of friendship and fun. All of the costs were covered by Vistas for Children Inc., a philanthropic organization from the Greater South Bay area who raise funds for programs that help children with special needs, including Partners for Pediatric Vision. Vistas funding helps Partners for Pediatric Vision provide free family support and vision education to families of children from birth to age 18 with vision loss. As a result of receiving services from Partners for Pediatric Vision, families understand their child’s vision diagnosis and all that can be done to help their child overcome the challenges of vision loss and succeed. The Build a Bear event has been bringing sighted and visually impaired children together since 2015 as an example of how philanthropy changes lives and strengthens communities. For more information about Vistas for Children: https://vistasforchildren.org