About Us

Bears By Your Side was created in 2013 by Cruz Fregoso, a senior at Ponderosa High School in Shingle Springs, California. He decided to help children cope with the Sandy Hook Elementry School disaster by sending teddy bears.

It was soon clear that those children were overwhelmed with teddy bears from all over the country, so Cruz decided to help children in crisis in his home area of El Dorado County.

Cruz's mother, Rebecca Giles, posted a story about the bear idea on Facebook, and Cruz received several financial contributions, several bears, and offers to help with a website …

Bears By Your Side was born.