founder
Justin Gutierrez
I founded Operation Ship-A-Bear hoping to provide emotional support to children experiencing hardship. After witnessing the atrocities in Ukraine and watching my mother in tears over these lost innocent civilian lives, I felt an obligation to do something to help. As a young student, it felt like a daunting task. However, determined to make a difference, I decided to create this charitable organization.
When I was young, I had a teddy bear along with many other stuffed animals. No exaggeration, that bear was with me every second of every day until I was about seven years old. That might seem a bit much, however that bear made me feel safe, and kept my mind off of the daily challenges I faced as a child. My goal is for Ukrainian children to have that same security blanket during these hard times. I know those of us who feel the same way can help to achieve this goal together.
Thank you to my Godmother for being the first to donate to Operation Ship-A-Bear. She is the most philanthropic person I know and a great role model.
