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Lions 167- 215 were donated to the Utah Valley Healthcare Foundation in March 2010. If you currently own one of these lions, please click "Register a Lion."

Ryan L. Allred, age 18, was on hand at the Utah Valley Healthcare Foundation's Chocolate Extravaganza in March, 2010 to personally encourage donors who were part of the Foundation's annual fundraising event. Ryan was invited onstage to briefly introduce his Ryan's Lions, which were then auctioned to raise funds for the hospital. Ryan donated 50 of his plush blue "courage" lions to the event, and helped raise over $4,700 to benefit the Newborn Intensive Care and Pediatric Intensive Care Units.

"I was amazed when they started the bidding to see all of the hands go up," said Allred. "Within a few minutes, they sold every one of the lions I had donated, plus a few more. Each of them will be taken to the hospital and given to the critically ill infants, children, and their families during the coming year. I know the hospital staff will see that they all find good homes. I wish I could meet every family personally."

Ryan began donating his Ryan's Lions at age 16 as part of an Eagle Scout project. Since then, demand has almost outstripped his ability to supply them where they are needed. "These are a tangible reminder to someone who is in a lot of pain that others are thinking of them," says Ryan. It was an honor to be part of the event. "I met a lot of amazing people."

If you received a lion with a collar number between 168 and 215, your lion was provided to you through a caring and anonymous friend who made a contribution at the fundraiser. Take him, hug him, and use all of his courage, and some day, when you read the story of how your lion came to be, you'll know that others were thinking of you even on your darkest days. We hope that someday you'll be able to "pay it forward" to someone else who needs a little extra dose of hope.