- March 19, 2026
Next month, the Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Eagles flight team will partner with Ormond Beach nonprofit Michael's 'Ohana to bring awareness to child abuse by collecting teddy bears for Kada's Promise — and making them fly.
Kada's Promise is a program that delivers the stuffed animals and blankets to foster care children, hospitals, homeless and women's shelters throughout the country. The program was founded by Kadance Fredericksen, an 18-year-old high school senior who died in a car crash in Baker in 2025.
Fredericksen was the Miss Okaloosa County Teen USA titleholder. She and Gianna Capri, founder of Michael's 'Ohana and Miss Florida Junior All American were friends. Gianna decided to collect teddy bears in Kadance's memory last year, donating 18 to Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health Florida.
“I know Kadance would love to see so many bears flying," Gianna said. "She was a good friend I met through pageantry. Her leadership skills and dedication to her studies made her an amazing role model. I miss her every day but being a part of Kada’s Promise and carrying on her legacy has helped deal with her loss."
The teddy bear drive is held during the month of April, as it is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. The ERAU flight team participates annually in Michael's 'Ohana's back-to-school drive and holiday toy drive.
“We wanted to help bring awareness to the month of April and what a better way than dropping teddy bears out of airplanes," flight team head coach James Hanover said in a press release. "Each bear will have its own parachute constructed by the flight team and an official first flight certificate. The bears will be dropped from 200’AGL and hit a designated landing zone on the airport. The closest to the center wins.”
Michael’s ‘Ohana was founded in June 2021 after the death of Gianna's uncle, Michael Alberico.
