Valley Celebrates a Beary Special Event

Valley Hospital held its 14th annual Beary Special Celebration for families of children cared for through Valley or its Home Care division on St. Patrick's Day.

According to a release sent by the hospital, Wyckoff resident Mary Pat Boron served as the inspiration of the event. Boron donated her considerable collection of teddy bears in 1996 to honor her mother, Patricia Grant. The 2011 event was held in Grant's memory.

It was also a day of green as a celebration of St. Patrick's day, where guests dressed in green, had their faces painted, saw Irish dancers and had themed games. Each child brought home a teddy bear, per the event's tradition.

The Sean Caton Memorial Foundation sponsored the party this year, a foundation developed to further charitable causes in honor of Glen Rock resident Christopher Sean Caton, who lost his life in the September 11 attacks in New York.

Event helpers included the Junior League of Bergen County, Ridgewood High School Project Interact members, The Valley Hospital Auxiliary, and Valley staff and volunteers.