ISSY (RETAIL)

The next Charity Beanie was Ariel the Bear. Ariel was released to raise money for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. This Charity was inspired by the family of actor/director Paul Glaser, his wife Elizabeth contracted HIV from a blood transfusion whilst giving birth to their daughter Ariel. Ariel also contracted the virus from her mother's breast milk and Elizabeth and Paul's son Jake also contracted the virus whilst in his mother's womb. You can visit the foundation's web site here. The embroidered logo on Ariel's chest is the logo of the Charity which was designed by Ariel Glaser. Ariel the Bear raised $3.4 million for the charity. This was not the first time that Ty Inc. had donated money to the foundation. In 1999 the money raised by the Global Poll (in excess of $1 million) was also donated to the Charity.