OPP not soliciting funds for its Community Bear Program

ORILLIA, ON, June 4, 2013 /CNW/ - The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has received a number of inquiries from Ontario residents asking about police organizations calling to solicit funds for teddy bears.

While many OPP officers are involved in worthy charities on their own time, the OPP is advising the public that it does not solicit funds from members of the public for its Community Bear Program or any other OPP program. The OPP's Community Bear Program is sponsored by Aviva Canada Inc.

Through the sponsorship, Aviva Canada Inc. provides OPP officers with black and white teddy bears which they give to traumatized children they encounter when they respond to incidents such as motor vehicle collisions.

The OPP is reminding people to verify the legitimacy of any organization that calls to solicit funds from the public. 

For information on how to spot a scam, go to www.opp.ca and click on

Fraud Prevention on the Resources page.

For information on the OPP Community Bear Program, go to www.opp.ca and click on Community Bear Program on the Resources page.

SOURCE: Ontario Provincial Police

Sgt David Thomas
Provincial Community Issues Coordinator
Crime Prevention Section

Phone: [phone]