Theodore Roosevelt Association Teddy Bears for Kids Program Makes Special Visit in Oklahoma
June 22, 2026
Tulsa, OK - On June 18, 2026, the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA) Teddy Bears for Kids program reached a new milestone with its first-ever delivery at St. Francis Children’s Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma. More than seventy teddy bears were delivered to the hospital along with enthusiastic smiles, heartfelt thanks, and moments of joy from children and their families.
Representing the Theodore Roosevelt Association were TRA members Jacqueline Giacomo and Gabriella Frame. During the ceremony, Giacomo shared the history of the teddy bear’s connection to Theodore Roosevelt and provided an overview of the Teddy Bears for Kids program and its nationwide impact.
Since 1986, the TRA’s Teddy Bears for Kids program has delivered more than 90,000 teddy bears to children in hospitals across the United States. Inspired by Theodore Roosevelt’s famous connection to the teddy bear, the program brings comfort, encouragement, and smiles to young patients during difficult times.
The teddy bear traces its origins to a 1902 hunting trip in Mississippi involving President Theodore Roosevelt. After members of his hunting party captured and tied a black bear to a tree, President Roosevelt was invited to shoot it but refused, believing it would be unsportsmanlike. News of the event spread nationwide after political cartoonist Clifford Berryman depicted the scene in The Washington Post. Inspired by the cartoon, Brooklyn shopkeepers Morris and Rose Michtom created a stuffed toy bear and displayed it in their store window with the name “Teddy’s Bear,” after the President’s nickname. The toy quickly became a national sensation, and with TR’s permission, the name was adopted commercially. More than a century later, the teddy bear remains one of the world’s most beloved toys and an enduring symbol of Theodore Roosevelt’s compassion, sportsmanship, and character.
Among the distinguished guests was Oklahoma State Representative Mark Tedford of House District 69, who read a proclamation from Governor Kevin Stitt declaring Theodore Roosevelt Teddy Bears for Kids Day in Oklahoma. Representative Tedford is also the Republican nominee for Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Representing the City of Tulsa were Deputy Mayor Krystal Reyes and District 5 City Councilor Karen Gilbert. Councilor Gilbert read a proclamation issued by Mayor Monroe Nichols and the Tulsa City Council. Deputy Mayor Reyes shared a touching personal story from her childhood, recalling how a nurse gave her a teddy bear while her sister was hospitalized—a memory that underscored the importance of the day’s mission.
Sam Mulready, representing the office of U.S. Congressman Kevin Hern, read a congressional citation recognizing the occasion.
Also in attendance were Tulsa Chief of Police Dennis Larsen and TPD Major Jillian Phippen, Division Commander of the Gilcrease Division. Chief Larsen brought Junior Tulsa Police Badge stickers for the children, adding another special touch to the visit.
An additional citation was presented on behalf of Oklahoma State Senator Dana Prieto of District 34, who was unable to attend due to a prior commitment.
Other guests included Denise Giacomo, Jacqueline Giacomo’s sister; Angela Reyes, mother of Deputy Mayor Krystal Reyes; and Scott Hannaford of Bison Media, who documented the event.
Following the ceremony, the group traveled to the patient floors to distribute teddy bears. Participating in the presentations were Jacqueline Giacomo, Gabriella Frame, Denise Giacomo, Sam Mulready, Deputy Mayor Krystal Reyes, Angela Reyes, and Scott Hannaford. The group was escorted by Hope Haymaker of St. Francis Children’s Hospital.
The day marked a significant milestone for the Theodore Roosevelt Association’s Teddy Bears for Kids program and demonstrated the enduring power of a simple teddy bear to provide comfort, hope, and happiness.
“For 40 years, the Theodore Roosevelt Association’s Teddy Bears for Kids program has brought comfort, hope, and smiles to children in hospitals across the country, and we are proud to see the program reach Oklahoma,” said TRA Executive Director Chris Cosentino. “We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who helped make the day memorable, especially TRA Member Jacqueline Giacomo, whose leadership and commitment made this incredible event possible.”
To learn more about the Teddy Bears for Kids program, please visit
www.theodoreroosevelt.org/teddybears.