UTA Student Chapter - Project HOPE

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TheUTA  Student Chapter of the Society of Human Resources Managers (SRHM), was made aware of a wonderful organization who made Christmas a little brighter for some very sick children in the Dallas/FW metroplex.

Project HOPE, headed by two outstanding people from the Dallas/Arlington area began a program around 26 years ago to help sick and homeless children. A very charming couple dressed up as Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and then passed out a few stuffed bears at a local hospital. They did this simply to teach their children a lesson. While doing so, they witnessed a miracle. Every year since, they have devoted their Christmas to creating more miracles. Over the last two and a half decades, their efforts, support and impact have continued to grow. They’ve developed a following of elves, and have expanded their reach to all areas and floors of the Dallas Methodist Hospital, a nursing home, and the Turner Community Center in Oak Cliff (where about 1,500 homeless men, women, and children receive a meal on Christmas day). Last year they handed out over 1,300 stuffed bears (and other furry critters) at these locations. As their number of needs continues to grow each year they seek help from other elves to meet their ever increasing needs of gifts and give a ways.

This year the UTA Student Chapter of SHRM combined with the Mid-Cities Human Resource Association to not only collect bears but to become some elves and help donate the bears to needee children. All the donations have been private from family and friends with no tax write offs while being collected all during the year. The collection of Bears consisted of 12 – 24 inch animals which will work to become the best for kids and patients. This event is kicked off Christmas Eve with a "drop off your Bears" get together to separate the bears in order to meet each specific need. Then, the morning of Christmas Santa, Mrs. Claus and a few elves arrive at Dallas Methodist Hospital, with bags loaded with Bears, to be taken to the preemies, children, cancer ward, adults, and visiting children on each floor until every bear (furry friend) has been delivered. The last few years project HOPE has delivered over 1,000 bears each Christmas. It takes approximately three hours non-stop. In addition, each nurse and doctor received a small gift of candy canes or chocolates.

This year the UTA Student SHRM Chapter and the Mid-Cities Human Resource Association combined to donate 349 bears to the drive while having six students help the give aways at the shelter. We were extremely pleased with the generous out pouring of bears from our students and friends to make this project a wonderful success!