More than 4,000 teddy bears of all sizes, shapes, colors and textures, including those up to 6 feet tall, will be gathered at Ward Warehouse stage along with Island entertainers during the Eleventh Annual Teddy Bear Round-Up and Family Resource Fair, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 26.

The event is sponsored by Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii, the Hawaii Chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America, and the Child Abuse Prevention Planning Council.

Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii asks that community members support the teddy bear drive by donating a new or gently used teddy bear or stuffed animal on that day.

The annual event is the highlight of the month-long series of events funded by the Hawaii State Department of Health to observe Child Abuse Prevention Month in April.

"Our goal this year is to collect 4,300 teddy bears — the same number of reports of child abuse in our Islands last year," said Elsie Foster, Teddy Bear Round-Up Chairperson, in a press release. "We were overwhelmed by the generous support of our community in the previous years and we want to be sure to achieve our goal again in 2008.

"If we collect enough bears this year with the help of the community, we will distribute the bears on all islands to family shelters, children's hospitals and other organizations that help families and children in crisis," Foster said.

"The first step in tackling this serious problem is educating people about child abuse and then providing alternative ways to relate to their children," Foster said. "Even if we only help one family, we would have made a difference and possibly saved a child's life."

The first 500 families that make a donation will receive a special gift and child safety information.

Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii, the Hawaii Chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America, is a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing child abuse through education, public awareness and advocacy which promote positive parenting and healthy families where children are valued and loved.

For more information about the Teddy Bear Round-Up, activities relating to Child Abuse Prevention Month or for information about child abuse prevention programs and activities throughout the year, call Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii, 951-0200.