Every year during the Yuletide season, the Bears of Joy of SM malls are offered as a dual-purpose gift idea to shoppers who wish to extend their blessings outside of their families and close friends through charity.

For instance, SM City General Santos has given 462 bears to the underweight and stunted kids identified by the City Population Management Office (CPMO).

SM City General Santos Mall Manager, Engr. Hermon L. Hernandez hands a bear to a kid from Brgy. Mabuhay

Engr. Hermon L. Hernandez, the assistant mall manager spearheaded the SM staff to surprise the children from 26 barangays in GenSan as they are being gathered at the Oval Plaza gymnasium on December 29. “It is our privilege and we are very thankful that SM has chosen us to be this year’s beneficiary. The spirit of Christmas is felt through this initiative. Truly, the bears bring pure joy to the kids,” said Ms. Judith Janiola, CPM Officer.

The bear that brings joy to the kid

In SM City Davao, kids at the House of Hope and the Cancer Pediatric Ward at the Southern Philippines Medical Center last December 30 were surprised. The group led by mall manager Lynette Angala-Lopez and group brand manager Aron Dalaza distributed more than 50 SM Bears of Joy at SPMC.

Volunteers from SM City Davao at the House of Hope

The mall is set to give out more of the bears in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development. SM Davao sold a total of 1400 bears, half of which were donated by the shoppers and business partners for distribution to the less fortunate kids for the Holidays.

SM Davao mall manager Lynette Lopez hands a Bear of Joy to one of the cancers patients in the halfway house.

The House of Hope is a temporary home for children with cancer. It has served about 5000 children and caregivers since its inauguration in August 2007. House of Hope decreased treatment abandonment and provided a clean and healing environment for children with cancer.

SM City Davao distributes Bears of Joy at the House of Hope in behalf of the SM shoppers

The SM Bears of Joy is a project of SM Cares, a corporate social responsibility program of SM Supermalls, in cooperation with Toy Express of The SM Store. Now on its fifth year, the project allowed SM shoppers and its business partners to purchase a pair of plush bears, one of which they keep and the other, they donate for distribution to the less privileged children in the community.