Get ready to apply
Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation
Bear Hugs
What you get
A personalized gift or experience built around your child's interests, sometimes including the whole family. Ask whether requests are open.
- Who starts it
- You
- How it’s sent
- Online, on their website
- Your time
- About 15 minutes
- Last checked
- Aug 27, 2026
Before you start, check you fit
- Your child is 19 or under.
- Illinois residence or treatment is required.
- A provider must verify the patient or diagnosis.
-
What their form asksA preview, so you can gather things first. Fill it in on their site.
Open their application ↗ Checked Aug 27, 2026What the form asks for
Bear Hug self-referral preparationPatients InterestsAdditional details regarding patient interests or Bear Hug ideasAdditional information regarding financial needHave ready
- Electronic consent, liability release, image/publicity permission choice, and age-verification attestations within the self-referral form.
After you send
Ensure the named social worker, child life specialist, or doctor can respond to Bear Necessities' verification contact. Use they email or 312-214-1200 ext. 25 for questions. If you have not heard back in two weeks, write and ask whether it arrived.