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43 °F Forecast | Road Cams Tuesday, January 20, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend December 22, 2003 Bear gatherer gives away fuzzy hugs By SANNE SPECHT Mail Tribune ‘Tis the season for Ron Boehm’s annual bear hunt. Heading straight to his favorite hunting site, Boehm entered the Meier & Frank store in the Rogue Valley Mall recently, walked up to the salesclerk and requested every teddy bear in the joint. "I got about 300 of them. They must have wondered what this crazy old man was doing with all these teddy bears," said Boehm. What the Shady Cove resident does is give the bears away to children from Roseburg to Medford who are in need of a fuzzy hug. Hospitals, police and fire departments all receive a share of Boehm’s care bears. A child waking up from anesthesia at a local hospital will find one of Boehm’s bears snuggled next to him. A child whose home burned down will get a bear from a local firefighter. Advertisement "We give them to kids in need. Kids who are scared. That’s what the teddy bear caper is all about," said Boehm. Boehm uses his private, nonprofit organization — The Aquila Foundation — to channel 20 percent of his business earnings to worthy causes. The owner of a successful courier business called Transbox Systems, Boehm says he and his wife, Charlotte, started the business on $400 and an unemployment check. The Boehms also own Two Pines and Carlotta’s restaurants in Shady Cove. The man who created several successful businesses with only a sixth-grade education said he and his wife are great believers in giving back. "We cannot outspend God. No matter how much we give, more comes back," he said. A couple of years ago, Boehm said he woke up with the certain knowledge he needed to give away $25,000 by Christmas — which was three days away. The Aquila Angels Giving Program was born in 2001 and continues to grow. He gave 23 of his employees $1,000 each and told them to find 10 people in need and, in turn, give them each $100. "The only real caveat is they have to give it nose to nose. They have to find someone personally," says Boehm. "We don’t check on them, but we love to hear the stories." Boehm said his sister is taking the Aquila Angels nationwide this year with her trucking business. She has given each of her 165 long-haul drivers $100 to "play angel with." Boehm also tithes 10 percent of his personal jet’s time to charity. For every 100 hours he spends on company business, he donates 10 hours to flying patients in need of airlift to out-of- area hospitals for surgeries or treatments. "We truly believe in payback for all the blessings we receive," said Boehm. Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times