Our Mission
What We Stand For
Tear Bear is a Columbus, Ohio, based company started by child abuse survivor Theresa Johnson who is dedicated to breaking the code of secrecy relating to all abuse. By disarming the abuser’s weapon of secrecy.
The Tear Bear Inc, a nonprofit organization will prevent, educate, and help those seek counseling for the abused as well as the abuser.
This will lead to awareness organizations becoming more empowered, foster cares more educated, nursing homes monitored more closely, schools more alert, and most of all leaving our children with the openness and awareness for a better and more secure future.
Our Board
We Support the Advocacy and Protection of All Forms of Abuse.
Theresa Johnson
Richard Johnson
Kevin Lambert
Stephanie Staines
Katie Browder-Person
Derek Payne
Dominique Robinson
About
Our CEO & Founder
Theresa Johnson, a native of Columbus, Ohio, and Tear Bear, Inc.’s Founder & CEO and child abuse survivor has dedicated over 20 years to helping increase the awareness of all abuse by disarming the abuser’s weapon of secrecy stating, “It’s OK 2 Tell.
Starting from a small child of 5 years old, her stepfather abused her with many different forms of abuse including sexual. The very first time, she did tell her mother but at the time she refused to believe or protect her. Her abuser had told her no one would believe her and he was right. So, she became an unhappy child that only spoke when spoken to. In school, bullying was a big part of her life as well. So she no longer enjoyed childhood or trusted any adult. She had to keep their dirty little secret between him and herself. His abuse ended with her at the age of 13 but the effects seem to have been everlasting. In fact, she felt she went from child abuse to life abuse.
Therefore, For the past eight years, Tear Bear, Inc. has been dedicated to breaking the code of secrecy relating to all abuse through a wide range of support methods and Tear Bear products labeled with the message “It’s OK to Tell”.
Tear Bear, Inc. organization “It’s OK to Tell” is the important and essential message for all areas of abuse. However, one of the current and selective focuses is on youth and helping to stop school bullying.
Current plans are to initiate anti-bullying program with materials and products that will have a positive impact on the students.
THE TEAR BEAR IS AN EMPOWERMENT VEHICLE FOR MORE ABUSE AWARENESS:
- THE DIAMOND TEARDROP REPRESENTS HOIW PRECIOUS YOU REALLY ARE
- ONLY ONE TEAR DROP BECAUSE YOU WILL GET THE HELP AND PROTECTION YOU NEED
- IT’S ON THE LEFT SIDE BECAUSE YOU GOING TO LEAVE THAT PAIN BEHIND
- THE BLACK AND BLUE REPRESENTS THE BRUISES
- THE NAME ON HIS RIGHT FOOT IS Resaj-child abuse survivor
The Name Tear Bear to Expose And Report by Educating And Reaching
A Message
From Our Founder
I want you to know something that may give you a little insight about me and a lot of others like me. The abuse that happened to me is happening every day to someone else. We read about it in the paper, see it on TV and hear about it from friends or family. We may feel sorry for that abused person and may even shed a tear or two. But, if we don’t reach out and try to do something to stop this madness, then we really should save our tears. I believe with all my heart that abusers create abusers. In fact, I know this for sure, my family is part of that creation.
People may handle it in a different way, but it all comes out the same. PAIN, PAIN, and more PAIN! Some people become timid, scared of the world and everyone in it. Some people block it out, by being in denial. Some people blamed themselves and have no self-esteem. Some people become promiscuous, using sex as a cover-up. Some people become suicidal; they can no longer take the pain. Some people withdraw, which is a major cause of depression. Some people become sexually confused, not knowing sex is not love. Some people turn to drugs and/or alcohol, an addiction that could kill them. But the most dangerous of all, are the people who become mad. They let the anger and pain inside control them. That’s when the innocent have to pay dearly. If the abused and abusers don’t get help by receiving therapy and continuous counseling, we will always be open to a new generation of abusers. THIS PAIN AND MADNESS MUST END!
Sincerely, THERESA JOHNSON
FOUNDER AND CREATOR OF TEAR BEAR
TEAR BEARS SAYS IT’S OK TO TELL
LET’S STOP ALL ABUSE!
Pick up the phone, there is help for us all.
TearBear Can…
Appeal to the school boards to have Tear Bear in counselor’s office for children that are being bullied, or suspicious of child abuse as well as an education tool for the prevention of abuse
Appeal to all citizens to report all known suspicions of abuse, including animal abuse.
Appeal to hospitals to have Tear Bear available to the sick and potential suicide victims as well as in all Children Hospital for a sick or abused child’s companion.
Tear Bear would offer small children companionship, amusement and comfort as well as communicate to the proper authorities it’s OK2TELL
The sale of the Tear Bear will give the Nation a product to empower victims to release their pain to the proper authority.
Appeal to daycare centers and Head start programs for the education value of abuse alerts in recognizing signs of abuse.
There are many organizations Tear Bear can support that give a product to what is happening in the world today.
On a typical day, there are more than 20,000 phone calls placed to domestic violence hotlines nationwide
Over 10 million abused animals die every year in the US
%
Approximately 1 in 10 Americans aged 60+ have experienced some form of elder abuse.
%