After 20 years, Operation TeddyCare has formally dissolved as a nonprofit. It was a family-based charity and due to health and other issues, it was no longer possible to maintain OTC. To see the work the charity did over the years, visit: http://teddycare.coastside.net/
Every Teddy found a good home and every dollar raised went to shipping them. No one ever collected a salary and everything besides shipping was always donated.
Thanks to everyone who supported OTC with love and, of course, Teddy Bears.
Operation TeddyCare was a family-based charity that ran for 20 years and distributed about 100,000 new plush Teddy Bears donated by the public to victims of crime, war, natural and manmade disasters.
The IRS set up a program requiring small charities bringing in less than $25,000-$50,000 a year to file a yearly postcard. It promised to send reminders, which it did not do. The charity always filed on time, but did not know the postcard had to be sent in yearly. Lawyers tried to help pro bono to follow the IRS guidelines for an appeal, but the IRS did not follow its own procedures and revoked the charity's status for failing to send in three postcards. Operation TeddyCare is one of about 78,000 small charities that lost their status this way. The charity remained in good standing with both the state of Washington and California. We will send our dissolution forms to anyone who wants to see it.
During our years of operation, no one ever took a salary. We paid no rent for facilities because we stored all the teddies in our garage. All Teddies were duly distributed, and any funds raised were spent on shipping. We have closed down the charity after trying to fight the IRS, which cost us our health and faith. We would like to tell everyone who helped us over the years how much we appreciate their love and support. We conducted ourselves with honor and care at all times.
Reform the IRS.
http://teddycare.coastside.net
Review from Guidestar