The organization receives a percentage of every teddy bear sale the organization generates on MamaBearsPlace.com.

Background

The Hamann Family Memorial Scholarship was founded in 1997 in memory of H. Paul Hamann. It is based on the value and importance of education.

Paul and Katharina Hamann, immigrants from Germany, put down roots in Chicago Illinois. Paul was a machinist and Katharina was a homemaker. They had four children: H. Paul, Kurt, Robert and Mary. They could not afford to send their children to college, nor was it an expectation. However, all four children wished to go to college and knew that a good education gave the opportunity for success in life.As a consequence, each child worked and saved money for college. The three boys had paper routes and various jobs in high school to pay for their schooling. Mary worked at the parochial high school to pay for her education.

Over the years, funds have been raised at an annual picnic hosted by H. Paul’s daughter, Diana. With the input (originally) by H. Paul’s family members, high school graduates, particularly in Indiana, could apply for the scholarship. The target was a student with average grades and a burning desire to attend college since that typified H. Paul and his siblings. As of 2009, twelve scholarships have been awarded. Several of the recipients have completed their degree and a few have helped to select future scholarship recipients.

Through technology you can help a worthy student. When you purchase a teddy bear on the Bears For Charity page of this website, 10% of your purchase will go to the Hamann Family Memorial Scholarship Foundation (tax deductible) which is administered by the Johnson County Community Foundation, Franklin, Indiana. 

Initially, the money in the Foundation paid for books for the recipient for one year. Now the Foundation has grown so the scholarship may be renewed for successive years. The more money raised the more we can help the recipient - or maybe select more than one– and put more smiles on a children’s faces. 

Consider this opportunity to do two wonderful things: give a worthy high school graduate help with college and put a smile on the face of a sick child. As H. Paul and his siblings believe, everyone should have the opportunity to go to college, if they wish, and get a leg up on writing their own success story.

We ask that if you know someone who would like to help a worthy student get through college you tell them about our Foundation and MamaBearsPlace.com. You can also mention the Foundation to your local high school, so maybe a student in your area can become a recipient of this scholarship. An application and further information can be found on the Johnson County Community Foundation website. Click the "scholarship" tab on the left and scroll down to the Hamann Family Memorial Scholarship. When you click there you will find the application for the scholarship. 

Read more of the Hamann Family Foundation story here.