Sylvia Stark is a Canadian businesswoman who was President and CEO of the Miss Canada International 1996 and Miss Teen Canada International 1998 competitions. During her time with the organization, three winners of Miss Canada International pageant were stripped of their crowns by Stark, for reasons that allegedly included brawling and breach of contract. Stark subsequently founded the Miss Teen Canada International pageants.
Inspired by the devastation of the 2004 Tsunami, Stark founded the Teddy Bears of Hope campaign which sends new and used teddy bears to children in areas affected by war and turmoil. Stark explained "We wanted to create something that didn’t cost money, that everyone could be involved in. Something to fill that emotional void in the children." Pageant contestants collect teddy bears to be sent to given away.Since then, thousands of bears have been collected and sent to countries such as Thailand, Cambodia, Guatemala, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Uganda.
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