Kentucky State Police selling Trooper Teddy Bear for 75th anniversary

(KBSI) – The Kentucky State Police announced a special sale of the iconic Trooper Teddy Bear to honor the agency’s 75th anniversary.

Trooper Teddy Bears normally retail for $25. They will be available for a limited time at a special holiday price of $19.48 in commemoration of KSP’s establishment in 1948.

The Trooper Teddy Bear sale will run from Thursday, Nov. 23, through Monday, Nov. 27.

All proceeds from the sale benefit the agency’s outreach program, allowing troopers to provide teddy bears to children who have been in traumatic situations such as car crashes, child sexual abuse cases or are dealing with a terminal illness.

“The Trooper Teddy Bear Project symbolizes the enduring commitment of KSP to serve our communities,” said KSP Commissioner Phillip Burnett Jr. “We encourage everyone to take part in this sale, helping us carry forward the legacy of comforting those in need during challenging times.”

Trooper Teddy Bears can be purchased online. If customers buy online, they can select to pick it up at their local KSP Post free of charge or have it shipped to their home for an additional fee.

The Trooper Teddy Project does not use state dollars and relies solely on donations and the sale of bears to sustain it, with 100% of the bear sale proceeds being used to purchase additional bears.

Visit the Trooper Teddy website to buy a bear or making a tax-deductible contribution to the project.

The came to life in December 1989 after Kentucky First Lady Martha Wilkinson hosted a gala fundraiser at Red Mile Racecourse earlier that summer. The black-tie event raised the needed funds to purchase 2,000 Trooper Teddy Bears. The first allotment of bears included a personal note on each stuffed animal from First Lady Wilkerson.