NYC PBA names young "Blue Line Bears" founder as Person of the Year

Created 1,600 Teddy Bears for Grieving Police Families

Megan O’Grady, founder and president of Blue Line Bears, was named the NYC PBA’s 2024 Person of the Year today, Aug. 29, at the police union’s 130th annual convention in Albany.

SEE VIDEO OF AWARD PRESENTATION & REMARKS

0:18 – PBA President Patrick Hendry’s remarks

2:54 – Award presentation

6:20 – Megan O’Grady’s remarks

PBA President Patrick Hendry presented the award to the daughter of a Cape Coral Police Department lieutenant whose nonprofit, Blue Line Bears, creates custom teddy bears from uniforms of fallen police officers. Each bear is sewn, stuffed and stitched by hand, offering a lifelong keepsake all at no expense to the families.

“As the daughter of a police officer, Megan understands the worry every police family feels when their loved one puts on that uniform to protect their community,” Hendry said. “Megan’s handmade teddy bears provide comfort for those whose heroes never return home, and they cherish the bears as an enduring tribute to their loved ones’ sacrifice.”

Hendry continued, “Through Blue Line Bears, Megan has stepped up for our entire law enforcement community across this nation, and for our NYPD family in particular. Her generosity and compassion for the families of the fallen, coupled with her dedication to service from such a young age, merit the highest possible honor our union can bestow.”

Megan O’Grady, founder and president of Blue Line Bears, said: “My worst nightmare is losing my dad, so to know that these families live out that nightmare every day is heartbreaking. When I see their faces light up as they embrace their teddy bears, I know that even a little good can come from even the greatest tragedies. Striving to do what is right, serving those in need — that’s the mission of Blue Line Bears, and it’s the same mission of every police officer.”

Following the 2016 Dallas Police Massacre that claimed the lives of five officers, Megan O’Grady — just 14 years old at the time — decided to make a difference. With the assistance of her family, Megan began creating handmade teddy bears to console the children of the fallen officers. This initial undertaking quickly evolved into Blue Line Bears. To date, Blue Line Bears has created nearly 1,600 bears for the families of fallen law enforcement officers from across 45 states and overseas cope with the devastating loss of a parent, sibling or child.

To learn more about the organization, please visit www.bluelinebears.org.

Previous recipients of the PBA’s Person of the Year award include former NYPD Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell, Tunnel to Towers Foundation CEO & President Frank Siller, senators, governors and many other notables from government and law enforcement.