BE.A.Resource | 2023 BEARing Gifts Toy Drive | Colliers

Jun 04, 2025

Colliers has proudly participated in the BEARing Gifts program for many years. BEARing Gifts, BEAR’s largest program, provides brand-new holiday gifts to children under the care of CPS, children who otherwise may experience no holiday joy at all. Donors can sponsor a child or children by purchasing the gifts they request, host a toy drive, donate monetarily to the program so BEAR can purchase requested toys, and/or volunteer their time at BEAR’s warehouse.

The annual toy drive successfully provides, on average, over 16,000 children in CPS custody with new holiday gifts each year. CPS caseworkers submit wish lists for children under their care. The requests are filled by foundations, corporate and family grants and gifts, and individuals.

Colliers Houston has created a “give back” group effort we call Colliers Gives that engages in community service and charitable organization support efforts all year. Our two largest efforts are our charity golf tournament in support of a different worthy charity each year and strong participation in the BEAResource gift drive in support of kids in the foster system at Christmas time. This year, we supported 50 children and additionally were able to donate monetarily to BEAR.

About BEAR:

BEAR is the only 501(c)(3) organization working with Harris County CPS and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services that offers unique programs – that provide not only the basic needs of children recently uprooted, but also supportive services that provide comfort, dignity, and celebration of successes that propel the child toward a successful future – for abused and neglected children. This partnership with the county and state is vital to BEAR’s success as an organization, allowing $0.85 of every dollar earned through fundraising efforts to go back to effectively operating four core programs. Additionally, the growing need for BEAR’s services is clearly evident by the fact that in the 25 years since inception, BEAR has grown from an annual operating budget of $7,000 to one of over $2M.For the last 25 years, BEAR has been an important advocate for the most vulnerable population in Houston…its children. This advocacy is represented through the basic necessities provided for children in BEAR rooms year-round, the uniforms distributed each fall, the Christmas gifts wrapped and delivered each winter, and in the canvas photos of adoptable children that are displayed year-round throughout venues in Houston. BEAR is not able to operate these vital programs, however, without the generosity and support from our community.