Regions Associates Make Some ‘Beary Special’ Deliveries

Love came this holiday season to scores of children in the form of a furry toy with a green T-shirt.

Regions’ market executives and other associates delivered the custom-made teddy bears in the bank’s “Miles of Smiles” outreach as an encore of the fidget toys the bank gave children at 21 different hospitals in 2023.

Kevin Crateau of Regions Corporate Marketing began coordinating the 2024 version of the outreach long before Hurricane Helene’s remnants arrived in his home state of Tennessee.

The torrential rains turned the Nolichucky River into a raging torrent that swept away several homes, roads and businesses in East Tennessee.

We hope the gift of these warm, fuzzy bears make the holidays just a little more special for these kids, encourage them and bring hope and comfort.
Kevin Crateau, Corporate Marketing Senior Business Partner

“We hope the gift of these warm, fuzzy bears make the holidays just a little more special for these kids, encourage them and bring hope and comfort,” Crateau said.

Mission accomplished, said Mark Merriman, the principal of Lamar School in Washington County, Tennessee.

Of the school’s 401 students in grades pre-k through 8, Merriman said 23 lost homes to the floodwaters. A bus driver and teacher also experienced flood damage.

“Every little bit helps in the post-hurricane relief efforts, whether it’s long-term household supplies, toys for the kids, or monetary relief,” Merriman said.

Consumer Banking Manager Aaron Madron and Branch Managers Beverly Deaderick (Jonesborough) and Cynthia Workman (Elizabethton) delivered enough bears for Merriman and team to gift the entire student body.

“With Regions Bank coming and bringing these teddy bears to our kids in the Miles for Smiles program, it’s one more thing that gives these kids hope and something to look forward to,” Merriman said.

Twenty-one miles away from Lamar, South Central Elementary School Principal J.W. McKinney smiled as he watched the Regions team lobbing bears into the outstretched arms of students waiting for them on a circular staircase.

After the flood, South Central Elementary School became an island and haven for the stranded for five days – housing and serving 10,000 meals from its school cafeteria to people cut off by washed-out bridges and roads.

“Getting donations such as bears and things for our students is a wonderful treat for them – especially for what they’ve been through, “ said McKinney.

He said the Regions Bears will become ‘reading buddies’ for students to practice their language skills on in the school’s reading program.

Ten families at the school were among the owners of 30 homes lost in the community when floods swept them into the river along with a church.

“Having little gifts and presents like this to brighten their day helps bring about that change to normalcy in the school, and literacy is so important in our rural communities,” McKinney said.

The last stop for the Regions bear delivery trio in East Tennessee was Isaiah 117 House, a nonprofit founded in Elizabethton, Tennessee, in 2017 that has since expanded to 11 other states.

Being able to take care of customers and communities is part of why I work at Regions and what we stand for as a company. I want my neighbors to know we’re there for them and we care.
Beverly Deaderick, Jonesborough Branch Manager

Mariah Sybert, location leader for the Isaiah 117 house serving Carter, Johnson and Unicoi counties, said: “We will be using our Regions bears to give to children who are entering foster care on their removal day so that they can take them with them, keep them and cherish them forever.”

For Deaderick, Workman and Madron, Miles of Smiles followed the meals served on behalf of Regions to first responders, the new school supplies delivered to Hampton High School – so badly damaged that classes had to be relocated to another facility – the heaters dropped off to families living in temporary housing, and Regions’ other disaster assistance. As part of its outreach to impacted customers in affected areas, Regions contacted 13,571 in East Tennessee to make them aware of available resources.

“My heart is in this community, and I’ve lived here all my life,” Deaderick said. “I know many of our children and families are living in campers until their houses get rebuilt or until they can find more permanent housing.“It was very important for me to do this,” she said of bringing smiles to children. “Being able to take care of customers and communities is part of why I work at Regions and what we stand for as a company. I want my neighbors to know we’re there for them and we care.”

Watch the reel on Regions’ Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn pages, and see the special slideshow above of the Miles of Smiles deliveries from Nov. 23 to Dec. 16.