Panda Do-Gooder Does GREAT

Amanda the Panda recalls kids' courage
Zimmerman's new book tells about children's spirit, faith.
JoAnn Zimmerman, otherwise known as Amanda the Panda, answered that question for Sara, Chris, Shani and many other cancer patients in her book "From the Heart of a Bear," published to coincide with Amanda the Panda's 25th anniversary.

Amanda Cares Inc. started in 1980 when Zimmerman quit a successful career in banking to become Amanda the Panda and visit children with cancer in hospitals and their homes. Today, the program focuses on giving support to grieving families who have lost a loved one.

Zimmerman said the book celebrates the lives of children and should be beneficial to anyone who knows a child with cancer."When someone's child has cancer, we think we don't know what to say or what to do, but this book gives a glimpse that they are children first and cancer patients second," Zimmerman said.The second half of the book focuses on what Amanda the Panda does today to help grieving families through weekend camps, support groups and activities.

The title of this post was originally "Mamas don't let your babies grow up named Amandas" because the first time I'd ever heard of Amanda the Panda was when CP2 and I visited Tai Shan in December. We met a vivacious young woman in line who introduced herself to us as "Amanda, as in y'know, like Amanda the Panda"?

I nodded in the affirmative, partly because the only words coming out of my mouth that day were "Tai Shan!" and the letter "EEEEEEEEEEEEEE....!" But also partly because rather than look ignorant and ask, I just WAS ignorant and pretended. How lame of me. But NOW I know Amanda the Panda and I think she's awesome. Thus, I had to change the title to give credit where its due. Accordingto the site, they have been in operation for 25 years, is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, and receives no federal, state, or local government funding.

Amazing.

More info on Amanda the Panda in the Des Moines, Iowa area.
(And just to clarify, our zoo friend Amanda was not the same Amanda of this article.)