Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation

08/21/2026

A huge thank you to Livy for stopping by the Bear Necessities office with her grandma, Cathy, to present her generous birthday gift donation.

Instead of receiving gifts for her birthday, Livy chose to donate her birthday money to Bear Necessities because she "wanted to use the money to help kids going through cancer."

She said, "In my opinion every child going through a scary time like this disease should also feel happy and not sad and scared all the time. I hope that my donation will make kids and families have some happiness through this sad and scary time!"

We are grateful to Livy for her incredible thoughtfulness and for choosing to support children and families touched by pediatric cancer. Livy’s kindness is helping to bring a little more happiness to our children and families during an incredibly difficult time.

08/18/2026

Meet Daviney 🐻💜
Daviney is 16 years old and currently in treatment for Ewing's sarcoma. As a huge Luke Bryan fan, Daviney requested to attend his concert for her Bear Hug.

Thanks to the generosity of Live Nation Chicago and Vibrant Arena in Moline, IL, Daviney enjoyed an unforgettable concert experience, complete with four concert tickets, VIP access to a to a more intimate Luke Bryan performance, and a $250 gift card for meals and merch!

Daviney's mom shared, "She had such a blast! The best part was seeing her big smile and wide eyes when she walked into the concert arena and saw the lights, the stage, all the stuff we are used to seeing but this was her 1st concert. The hospitality was above and beyond. They set her a seat directly front and center in Luke's lounge for his private concert. There was only maybe 50 people in there so it was so intimate. It was the best night and I could never thank you enough!"

08/14/2026

Meet Alaira 🐻💜
Alaira is four years old and currently in treatment for Wilms tumor. For her Bear Hug, Alaira received a new bicycle complete with some fun and fancy accessories to make her rides even more special!

Alaira's dad shared, "Alaira got her new bike today and she was so excited for it!! Thank you for making it so easy and for helping us!"

08/14/2026

Only 2 days until our 2026 Golf for the Bear!

Enjoy a day of golf, cocktails, and fun while making a difference for children and families touched by pediatric cancer. 🏌️💜

🔗 Register Today: https://donate.bearnecessities.org/event/golf-for-the-bear/e813664

🏌️ Swing into action at our 2026 Golf for the Bear!

Join us on Monday, August 17th, 2026 at Kemper Lakes Golf Club and make a meaningful difference for children and families facing pediatric cancer.

📅 Monday, August 17, 2026
📍 Kemper Lakes Golf Club
24000 N Old McHenry Rd,
Kildeer, IL 60047

⛳ Event Schedule:

10:00 AM – Registration & Bloody Mary Bar
11:15 AM – Welcome & Announcements
11:30 AM – Shotgun Start & Lunch on Course
4:00 PM – Cocktail Reception
5:00 PM – Awards Dinner

🔗 Register here: https://donate.bearnecessities.org/event/golf-for-the-bear/e813664

🤝 Sponsorship Opportunities: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wv_XoLPgR7jCz0sq8YoDQcaWLyF7QSH0/view

08/13/2026

A huge thank you to the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire for welcoming our Bear Necessities families to their production of The Year with Frog and Toad this past weekend!

For many of the children, this was their very first live theater experience, and they absolutely loved it! From the excitement of seeing the show to sharing the experience with their families, it was a special day filled with joy and memories.

We are grateful to the Marriott Theatre for offering this experience to our families and giving them a chance to enjoy a little fun and magic together. 💜

08/12/2026

Meet Francesca 🐻💜
Francesca is 18 years old and currently in treatment for lymphoma. For her Bear Hug, Francesca received a MacBook to help her stay connected with friends and keep up with her studies during treatment.

Francesca said, "Thank you again so much! I have been using it for school so far and I absolutely love it!"

08/11/2026

Just one week to go! ⛳️💜

Join us next Monday, August 17th at Kemper Lakes Golf Club for a day of golf, fun, and making a difference for children and families facing pediatric cancer.

🔗 Registration: https://donate.bearnecessities.org/event/golf-for-the-bear/e813664

🏌️ Swing into action at our 2026 Golf for the Bear!

Join us on Monday, August 17th, 2026 at Kemper Lakes Golf Club and make a meaningful difference for children and families facing pediatric cancer.

📅 Monday, August 17, 2026
📍 Kemper Lakes Golf Club
24000 N Old McHenry Rd,
Kildeer, IL 60047

⛳ Event Schedule:

10:00 AM – Registration & Bloody Mary Bar
11:15 AM – Welcome & Announcements
11:30 AM – Shotgun Start & Lunch on Course
4:00 PM – Cocktail Reception
5:00 PM – Awards Dinner

🔗 Register here: https://donate.bearnecessities.org/event/golf-for-the-bear/e813664

🤝 Sponsorship Opportunities: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wv_XoLPgR7jCz0sq8YoDQcaWLyF7QSH0/view

08/10/2026

A New Chapter for Bear Necessities 🐻

After 34 years of extraordinary dedication to children and families facing pediatric cancer, we announce the retirement of our founder, Kathleen A. Casey.

What began as a promise to honor the memory of her son, Bear, grew into an organization that has brought hope, joy, comfort, and support to thousands of children and families. Kathleen’s vision and compassion have shaped Bear Necessities and created a lasting legacy that will continue on for generations.

As Kathleen steps into her new role as Founder Emerita, we are deeply grateful for her decades of leadership and dedication to the families we serve.

As we honor Kathleen’s legacy, we are also excited to welcome Kristen Walter, Ed.D. as our new Executive Director. With more than 25 years of nonprofit leadership experience, Kristen brings extensive knowledge in fundraising, education, organizational development, and advocacy for children and families.

While leadership may change, our mission remains the same: to bring hope, joy, and support to children and families facing pediatric cancer.

Together, we look forward to honoring our past, embracing the future, and continuing Bear’s legacy.

08/06/2026

We were thrilled to attend the Advocate Children's Hospital - Park Ridge’s Peds in the Weeds Summer Picnic this past weekend! 💜

It was wonderful to spend the day connecting with our Bear Necessities families, meeting new friends, creating fun crafts, and handing out our Bear Necessities backpacks filled with special goodies.

We’re deeply grateful for the opportunity to be part of such a meaningful event and to connect with so many incredible Chicagoland organizations that are dedicated to supporting children and families facing pediatric cancer. Thank you for bringing everyone together for a day filled with community, connection, and fun!

08/06/2026

Don't miss your chance to tee off for a great cause! 🏌️💜

🔗 Register Today: https://donate.bearnecessities.org/event/golf-for-the-bear/e813664

🤝 Sponsorship Opportunities: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wv_XoLPgR7jCz0sq8YoDQcaWLyF7QSH0/view

🏌️ Swing into action at our 2026 Golf for the Bear!

Join us on Monday, August 17th, 2026 at Kemper Lakes Golf Club and make a meaningful difference for children and families facing pediatric cancer.

📅 Monday, August 17, 2026
📍 Kemper Lakes Golf Club
24000 N Old McHenry Rd,
Kildeer, IL 60047

⛳ Event Schedule:

10:00 AM – Registration & Bloody Mary Bar
11:15 AM – Welcome & Announcements
11:30 AM – Shotgun Start & Lunch on Course
4:00 PM – Cocktail Reception
5:00 PM – Awards Dinner

🔗 Register here: https://donate.bearnecessities.org/event/golf-for-the-bear/e813664

🤝 Sponsorship Opportunities: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wv_XoLPgR7jCz0sq8YoDQcaWLyF7QSH0/view