Kiwanis Teddy Bears For HARC’s SteppingStones Program

HARTFORD, CT December, 2006 - The Greater Hartford Association for Retarded Citizens, Inc.’s (HARC’s) SteppingStones birth-to-three, early intervention program was the lucky recipient of 12 Teddy Bears from the Kiwanis Club of West Hartford.

According to Claudia Bowles of the West Hartford Kiwanis, “We wanted to find a place where these bears would be used to make a difference in children’s lives. I contacted Eileen McMurrer of Birth–to-Three and she suggested HARC’s SteppingStones Program. I went to the HARC website and was impressed with the scope and quality of the organization. These teddy bears will provide that extra little bit of comforting that a child in a difficult, stressful situation needs. I knew this would be a good place for our bears!”

Nancy Kleiner, Director of SteppingStones, reiterates, “These bears will certainly brighten some young lives!”

The teddy bears are part of a special program of the Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Institute in Boston and Kiwanis Key Clubs in New England and were obtained by the Kiwanis Club of West Hartford, which currently has 17 members. Bowles continues, “We were pleased to take this opportunity to connect with HARC and I’m interested to see if any of our other programs, such as Lose the Training Wheels, might be a further opportunity to join forces!”

The Greater Hartford Association for Retarded Citizens, Inc. (HARC) was formed in 1951 by parents of children with mental retardation. HARC remains true to its mission of helping people with mental retardation and their families enjoy lives of quality, inclusion and dignity by providing support, education and advocacy.

HARC currently serves over 800 people a day in a wide array of programs and runs 11 group homes and condominiums and 8 supported living arrangements in the Greater Hartford area. HARC’s SteppingStones program currently serves 240 families in Greater Hartford.

Kiwanis International is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time. The Kiwanis Club of West Hartford is a local chapter serving the children of the local community. During the year, the Kiwanis Club of West Hartford meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month and welcomes new members and guests.

For further information about HARC go to the website: www.harc-ct.org or call 860.218.6089. For more information about the Kiwanis Club of West Hartford, visit their website at www.westhartfordkiwanis.org or call 860.313.0101.

Photo Caption: Claudia Bowles of Kiwanis Club of West Hartford, Nancy Kleiner, Director of the SteppingStones Program of HARC and Jane Rothschild, Assistant Director of the SteppingStones Program