Theodore Roosevelt Association Brings Smiles to Young Patients at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
April 20, 2026
Sioux Falls, SD - It was a morning full of smiles, snuggles, and a little extra comfort as the Theodore Roosevelt Association brought its Teddy Bears for Kids program to the pediatric unit at Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center in Sioux Falls, SD.
Joe Wiegand - regarded as the world's foremost Theodore Roosevelt reprisor - joined longtime volunteers Dick and Dee Gross to hand-deliver soft, comforting Teddy Bears to young patients receiving care. The children received a bear of their own to keep, helping lift spirits and bring a touch of warmth to hospital rooms and hallways alike.
Since 1986, the Theodore Roosevelt Association’s Teddy Bears for Kids program has delivered more than 90,000 Teddy Bears to children receiving treatment hospitals across the country, embodying the TRA’s mission of service inspired by Theodore Roosevelt’s legacy of compassion and civic duty.
The delivery reminded everyone involved - patients, families, and staff alike - that a bit of cheer and a caring gesture can make all the difference.
Learn more about the TRA’s Teddy Bears for Kids program by visiting
www.theodoreroosevelt.org/teddybears