Super Stars, Angelica Vale and Jaime Camil, Team up to Support the “Bear Hugs Toy Drive” and Deliver Teddy Bears to Patients at Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach

Movie, music and television super stars, Angelica Vale and Jaime Camil, known for their roles on the Mexican telenovela “La Fea Mas Bella,” (“Ugly Betty”) teamed up with Liset Meruelo, founder of “Bear Hugs Toy Drive,” to bring joy and a special furry teddy bear companion to patients and families at Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach. The Bear Hugs Toy Drive is an annual charity campaign founded by Liset Meruelo.

For the 14^th consecutive year Meruelo has encouraged local businesses, family, friends and supporters across Southern California to collect bears for Bear Hugs Toy Drive. This year Bear Hugs Toy Drive collected more than 2,000 teddy bears, hundreds of which were donated to patients and families at Miller Children’s.

 “It touches my heart to be able to help the patients and their families that are going through a very challenging time, especially during the holidays,” says Meruelo. “I’m happy to have the opportunity to not only collect teddy bears for Miller Children’s, but to really get to know the patients. I am thankful to Angelica and Jaime for their support in joining me in delivering these teddy bears to patients and families that we hope, bring them comfort, and the opportunity to forget their illness for at least one day.”

Southern California residents Angelica Vale and Jaime Camil were thrilled to be a part of the Bear Hugs Toy Drive. During their visit, Vale and Camil stopped at every playroom and spent one-on-one time with each patient and their family – taking photos, signing autographs and delivering teddy bears. Vale and Camil also visited several patients, who were too sick to leave their rooms, at their bedside.

 “As a new mom, I can’t imagine what parents go through when their child is ill,” says Vale. “To me Christmas is all about the children, and what better way to celebrate the holidays than giving a teddy bear to a child in the hospital and putting a smile on their face.”

 Not only does Meruelo coordinate visits like this, she also volunteers at Miller Children’s as a NICU cuddler. As a hospital trained NICU cuddler, Meruelo supports the development and growth of premature babies by interacting with them during times when their parents can’t be with them at the hospital. For more information on ways to support the Bear Hugs Toy Drive, contact Brett Beck at (562) 933-GIVE (4483).