This group of 6th-8th graders and their volunteers spent the afternoon at the Build-A-Bear Workshop which served as the forum for the one-on-one partnership that "FUNDay" works to achieve. Each pair was asked to work together to create a stuffed animal from scratch. A specific budget was established adding a financial lesson for the kids to focus on. The students were given the task of learning how to work within a budget on a project with someone outside their peer group.

As is often the case with "FUNDays," the children found rewards beyond those projected by the adults planning the event. In this instance, many of the students found their time at the Build-A-Bear Workshop to be an opportunity for self-expression. In many ways, each bear was a reflection of the child who created it. For other students, the time at the workshop proved to be an opportunity to give to others. One student even made his bear for his 2-month-old sister, that way "as she gets older, she will always have something that I made for her." When the day was done and an array of animals were stuffed and dressed, the students had gained new role models and a greater knowledge of the world beyond their everyday life. Having completed these social and educational tasks, another "FUNDay" in New York City concluded with all of its goals achieved.

Click here to see pictures from last month's event!