Bank of American Fork is sponsoring the 13th annual Project Teddy Bear, a stuffed animal drive that benefits at-risk children at the Utah Valley Family Support & Treatment Center in Orem, Salt Lake Valley Family Support Center (locations in Midvale, Taylorsville, West Valley City and Sugarhouse), House of Hope (SLC, Provo and Ogden) and Family Connection Center (in Layton/Clearfield and Bountiful). Teddy bears are given to children that are receiving therapy or seek help at the centers for child abuse or neglect, to provide much needed comfort for those children who have been through traumatic experiences. The stuffed animals also aid in play therapy sessions, thus the healing process begins.

Last year, Bank of American Fork–with the help of employees, customers and community members–collected 11,800 stuffed animals. The bank’s aim this year will be to meet or exceed last year’s unprecedented drive, which will allow a teddy bear or stuffed animal, to be given to all the children served at the four family support centers throughout the year.

“We are asking those in our communities to help Bank of American Fork meet its goal of collecting the needed teddy bears/stuffed animals,” said Richard Beard, Bank of American Fork president and CEO. “We want a teddy bear in the arms of every child who needs one.”

To donate to Project Teddy Bear, drop off a new or clean, gently used stuffed animal to any of Bank of American Fork’s 13 branches throughout Salt Lake, Utah and Davis counties through Dec. 12.

The annual Teddy Bear Project is a community effort with donations and volunteers from many organizations like Bailey’s Moving and Storage, who donates trucks, boxes and manpower to transport the stuffed animals to centers full of needy children.

Bank of American Fork, a subsidiary of People’s Utah Bancorp, was established in 1913. With assets of nearly $920 million, the Bank operates 13 full-service branches across Salt Lake, Utah and Davis counties. For more information about Bank of American Fork, call 1-800-815-BANK or visit bankaf.com. Member FDIC.