The fourteenth annual Bears in the Air program lands at South Bend International Airport (SBN) when community stakeholders donate the first bears to the program at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 3 at the “Bear Den” located in the atrium of the airport. St. Joseph County Airport Authority Board President David Sage will be joined by South Bend Mayor James Mueller, St. Joseph County Commissioner Rafael Morton, Robert L. Miller Sr. Veteran’s Center Resident Garey Hendrix, and South Bend Chocolate Company Director of Operations Kristina Tressler.
Bears in the Air will officially kick-off in the terminal at SBN on Friday, December 5. The party begins at 6:00 p.m. The event is open to anyone 21 years of age or older. The $35 per person entry fee will provide a teddy bear to a child in an area hospital and assistance to the Veterans at the Robert L. Miller Sr. Veteran’s Center. Guests will enjoy small plates, one free drink from the cash bar, music, and door prizes including airline tickets from Breeze Airways, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines.
Anyone unable to attend the event is encouraged to donate to the program through December 13 at https://givegrove.com/
“We look forward to welcoming everyone into the airport for an evening of fun and giving back,” said SBN’s CEO & Executive Director Mike Daigle. “In the past thirteen years, our generous community has provided nearly 22,500 teddy bears to children in area hospitals and $106,600 to the Veteran’s Center in downtown South Bend.”
WHO:
St. Joseph County Airport Authority Board President David Sage
South Bend Mayor James Mueller
St. Joseph County Commissioner Rafael Morton
Robert L. Miller Sr. Veteran’s Center Resident Garey Hendrix
South Bend Chocolate Company Director of Operations Kristina Tressler
WHAT: Fourteenth Annual Bears in the Air Program
Community leaders will place the first bears in the “Bear Den”
WHERE: South Bend International Airport Atrium east of Delta ticket counter
WHEN: Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at 10:00 a.m.
ACTUAL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
10:00 am Press Event Begins
- David Sage, St. Joseph County Airport Authority Board President Comments
- Explains the Bears in the Air program and its impact including the work of Martha Walorski, Isabella Hall, and Amelia Hall
- James Mueller, South Bend Mayor Comments
- Explains the importance of having a community asset that gives back to its community
- Rafael Morton, St. Joseph County Commissioner Comments
- Explains his firsthand experience with the kick-off party and how the event has grown in parallel with the growth of airport
- First bears placed in “Bear Den”
10:20 am Individual interviews
