Just what are the United Buddy Bears and what do they have to do with Jackie Chan?


Several years ago when Jackie was filming in Berlin, Germany, he noticed statues of large bears all over the city. He fell in love with the bears, posing for photos with as many as he could find. He did some research and found out that the bears were the brainchild of a woman named Eva Herlitz. Eva's plan was to give artists a blank Buddy Bear statue and have them paint it, then auction it off for charity. Since the project began in 2001, over two million dollars has been raised to benefit UNICEF and other children's charities.

Now you can understand why Jackie wanted to be involved!

Jackie helped arrange for the United Circle of Buddy Bears to come to Hong Kong and he's supported the Buddy Bear project for many years. 


The United Circle of Buddy Bears in Victoria Park, Hong Kong (2004)

On Jackie's Kids Corner, we sponsor a Buddy Bear design contest every year. It's done mostly for fun, but it also serves to raise awareness about the Buddy Bear project and UNICEF. 

This contest is not for just for children; many adults have submitted Buddy Bear designs in the past years. The nice thing is that you don't have to be an artist to make a Buddy Bear design. All you need is the blank bear drawing and your imagination. Here are a variety of designs that have been sent to us over the past several years:





Here's a photo of Jackie with one of the Berlin Buddy Bears:



A poster Jackie made which shows him posing with dozens of bears:


Several times we have gathered the designs together and created a Buddy Bear book for Jackie:

Jackie looks through the first Buddy Bear book with Eva Herlitz and her husband.

Jackie with the second book . It's filled with Buddy Bear designs from all over the world!



We hope you'll take a moment to read more about the Buddy Bears on Jackie's Kids Corner. And when you're finished, why not design your own Buddy Bear?  There are great prizes this year..  

Click here to find out how to enter this year's contest. (Hurry!  The contest deadline is July 31st.)

Click here to read more about the United Buddy Bears at the Kids Corner.


Photos and drawings © 2009 The JC Group
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eliska
posted on Wednesday, Aug 18, 2010
you are an idol of the whole generation in Slovakia and its great to know that you are not only a superb actor but also a generous and good man
adem efe
posted on Sunday, Jul 25, 2010
i love you simply =/
adem efe
posted on Sunday, Jul 25, 2010
adem_92@hotmail.de
adem efe
posted on Sunday, Jul 25, 2010
hello mr. . Chan you are my idol and I hope someday I will like them. Many greet her adem =)
Maya Miller
posted on Tuesday, Jul 13, 2010
Mr. Chan dat a nice thing dat u did keep helping the world to turn into a better place
Alexander de Mo
posted on Sunday, May 30, 2010
This is very nice .
BerlinChild
posted on Saturday, Nov 14, 2009
Great Idea Jackie, Berlin says:THANK YOU!
Nicole K
posted on Thursday, Sep 10, 2009
Hello Jackie, In 2006, i came 2nd in NSW for designing a bear. It was exciting and fun and i hope the bears can come back to Australia again or i could go to HongKong if they are back there and also see my family. Anyways.. wish you the best.. Nicole P.s: your movies are good =)
Roderick
posted on Sunday, Aug 09, 2009
The World is a strange but beautiful place.
SOROO
posted on Saturday, Aug 08, 2009
DEAREST JACKIE CHAN: I HAVE WATCHED YOUR MOVIES AND PRACTICED KUNG FU AT HOME IN PAST FEW YEARS. I AM READY TO WORK FOR YOU NOW FORGET ABOUT CRAZY GEORGE FORMAN I AM DAMN SERIOUS, I LOVE YOU, HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON.
Daniel Neuman
posted on Wednesday, Aug 05, 2009
Hello Jackie, My name is Daniel Neuman and I am a University student from Canada. I also enjoyed the buddy bear exhibit in Berlin and Warsaw last summer. Except I noticed there was no bear to represent Canada. It was explained to me by a program coordinator that the Canadian buddy bear was damaged, and an attached letter from the foreign affairs minister explained why they could not sponsor a new one. Maybe you have some idea on how to raise money for or sponsor a Canada buddy bear. I imagine your too busy, but as a fellow supporter of this exhibit, I ask for your consideration... Thanks, keep up the good work neums_100@yahoo.ca
Deanna
posted on Sunday, Aug 02, 2009
Hey jackie all my life i wished i could meet u! the 1st time i saw u in a movie i thought u were my dad!but found out u were not!but one day i hope i get 2 meet u cause that would mean so much 4 me! i will not give up tell the end!
SOROOO
posted on Wednesday, Jul 29, 2009
HELLO HELLO JACKIE i have been jumping up & down past few months & singing lots of songs too. i want to work for U, U give me food & a bed to sleep on at nite is enough for me. god bless U more.
Chella
posted on Sunday, Jul 26, 2009
Hi Jackie, A fan from India. God bless u for all the good things that you do. Wish to meet u.
HOLGER
posted on Thursday, Jul 23, 2009
hey jackie
emma
posted on Tuesday, Jul 21, 2009
So Cute Body Bears!!I love those bears. I love you so!!!!
Guna
posted on Tuesday, Jul 21, 2009
Nice contest :)
Abdelhamid
posted on Monday, Jul 20, 2009
Very well !
张宏伟
posted on Monday, Jul 20, 2009
只有英文么，中文有么？
Omar
posted on Monday, Jul 20, 2009
I am your big FAN from Israel !!! I love all of your movies :) You are the best ... I wish i can meet you .
willyane araújo
posted on Monday, Jul 20, 2009
esse site é muito legal!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE YOU JACKIE CHAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ass:Nany,sua fã de carteirinha!!!!!!!!! eu adoro seus filmes são legais!!!!!!!!! J A C K I E C H A N
zico
posted on Sunday, Jul 19, 2009
I am ur big fan from bangladesh.
邹亦欣
posted on Saturday, Jul 18, 2009
这些熊全部都这么可爱，真希望在我们这里也能看到这样的展览，:-D