Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation
Bear Hugs · About this organization
What you get
A personalized gift or experience built around your child's interests, sometimes including the whole family.
How to start
Share your child's interests with Bear Necessities and give permission for the hospital to confirm the diagnosis.
The details, as published
Bear Hugs are customized experiences or gifts created around an eligible pediatric-cancer patient's interests and may include the whole family. Examples include meeting a favorite sports team, a water-park weekend, a Broadway show, or a bicycle; no dollar ceiling, fulfillment time, or capacity is published.
What help you may get
Camps And Retreats
Bear Hugs — camps and retreats
Bear Hugs are customized experiences or gifts created around an eligible pediatric-cancer patient's interests and may include the whole family. Examples include meeting a favorite sports team, a water-park weekend, a Broadway show, or a bicycle; no dollar ceiling, fulfillment time, or capacity is published.
Amount not published
Peer And Emotional Support
Bear Hugs — peer and emotional support
Bear Hugs are customized experiences or gifts created around an eligible pediatric-cancer patient's interests and may include the whole family. Examples include meeting a favorite sports team, a water-park weekend, a Broadway show, or a bicycle; no dollar ceiling, fulfillment time, or capacity is published.
Amount not published
Practical Items And Home Help
Bear Hugs — practical items and home help
Bear Hugs are customized experiences or gifts created around an eligible pediatric-cancer patient's interests and may include the whole family. Examples include meeting a favorite sports team, a water-park weekend, a Broadway show, or a bicycle; no dollar ceiling, fulfillment time, or capacity is published.
Amount not published
Wishes And Family Experiences
Bear Hugs — wishes and family experiences
Bear Hugs are customized experiences or gifts created around an eligible pediatric-cancer patient's interests and may include the whole family. Examples include meeting a favorite sports team, a water-park weekend, a Broadway show, or a bicycle; no dollar ceiling, fulfillment time, or capacity is published.
Amount not published
Check the main eligibility rules
Diagnosis
B-ALL is in scope. B-ALL is pediatric cancer and the published age range overlaps ages 0–18.
Age
Age 0 to age 19, measured at application.
- The self-referral workflow screens for patient age 0–19.
Treatment status
Relapse Or Recurrence
- A provider must verify the patient or diagnosis.
Where you live and where your child is treated
Where your family lives
Residence coverage is not published clearly; confirm with the program.
- Patient lives in Illinois or receives treatment at an Illinois hospital.
Where your child is treated
Treatment must be connected to: Illinois treatment is an alternative to Illinois residence..
- Illinois treatment is an alternative to Illinois residence.
How to get started
Does a social worker or care team need to start it? No. A required care-team start is not published; the family can use the available route below.
Who can start: Parent Or Guardian
- Authorize diagnosis confirmation with the hospital team.
- Use the live self-referral form or hospital-social-worker pathway.
- Work with Bear Necessities to design the customized Bear Hug.
Ways to apply or ask
- Hospital Workflow
- Online Portal · Open form or page
- Online Portal
Documents to prepare
The program does not publish a document checklist. Ask before gathering paperwork.
Availability and timing
| Program | Active |
|---|---|
| Applications | Not Published |
| Funding or space | Not Published |
| Application window | Rolling |
| Last checked | Aug 24, 2026 |
Limitations and things to confirm
- Benefit ceiling, timing, and capacity are not published.
- Illinois residence or treatment is required.
- What capacity, fulfillment timetable, and benefit ceiling currently apply?
Official sources
Program details were last verified Aug 24, 2026. Availability can change, so check the official program before applying.