TEDDY BEARS COLLECTED FOR CHILDREN

KEN SAKAMOTO / STAR-BULLETIN
More than 3,000 teddy bears were collected for abused children
at the Center Stage of Ala Moana Shopping Center yesterday to
kick off Child Abuse Prevention Month. The young dancers are
from Halau Hula O Nalei O Kamakani and Na Kupuna O
Wahiawa and Honolulu.

Furry bears
ready for shelters

Thousands of toys are donated
at an event calling an
abuse alert

---

By Rosemarie Bernardo
Star-Bulletin

A gigantic stuffed teddy bear was strapped in the front seat of a police car, ready for a long drive from Ala Moana Center to Waianae, where it will bring a smile to a child who has been neglected or abused.

More than 3,000 teddy bears were stuffed into two police paddy wagons and a police car yesterday by about 15 volunteers from Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii. The stuffed animals will be distributed to family shelters, children's hospitals and other organizations that help families and children in crisis.

The occasion was the fourth annual teddy bear roundup held at Ala Moana Center's Centerstage yesterday to mark Child Abuse Prevention month.

The goal was to collect at least 2,935 teddy bears -- "the same number of confirmed reports of child abuse in our islands last year," said Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii executive director Chuck Braden.

At 10:15 a.m., 480 teddy bears were donated. By 2 p.m, with the encouragement of a live radio broadcast and entertainment, there were 3,651.

KEN SAKAMOTO / STAR-BULLETIN
HPD officer Otto Katethong stuffed the last teddy bear into the
paddy wagon yesterday for distribution to abused children on
Oahu. Over 3,000 teddy bears were collected for child
abuse prevention month.

"I think it shows people want to do something about child abuse," said Braden. "A lot of child abuse cases are not reported."

According to Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii, the number of confirmed child abuse cases in Hawaii have tripled over the past 20 years. The organization estimates as many as 40,000 to 50,000 children may be abused or neglected each year in Hawaii, with only 10 percent of cases reported to the state Child Welfare Services.

A new study commissioned by Prevent Child Abuse America estimates that the direct costs of intervention, medical and emotional treatment, and indirect costs of problems created by abuse and neglect amount to $1,461.66 per family in Hawaii.

Braden advised anyone who sees or hears a child being abused or neglected to call the police or Child Protective Services.

"We can't take care of our kids unless we get someone to intervene," he said.