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A teddy bear for all season

Kip the Bear to ride stationary bike for two-days

By Clay Schuldt 6 min read

NEW ULM -- This December, Kip the Pro Kinship Bear will once again push himself to the limits to keep kids warm.

Last year, Kip stood on the roof of The Franklin building for 48 hours during New Ulm's Oktoberfest celebration. This year, he will pedal a stationary bike for 48 hours at the Best Western Plus. The purpose of the stunts is to raise money for the Coats for Kids program.

Pro Kinship of New Ulm has been in charge of the Coats for Kids program for the last five years after the local Kiwanis Club that previously managed the program closed.

Kari Beran, executive director of Pro Kinship, said in the five years since they took over the Coats for Kids program, referrals and requests have increased across the county. The economy in the wake of the COVID pandemic created an increased demand for coats and winter wear.

"In 2025, we served 311 kids," Beran said. "That's the highest number served in 35 years, including the time the Kiwanis managed it."

With the Coats of Kids program seeing its greatest need, they had to call in their top resource: Kip the Pro Kinship Bear.

Kip has served as Pro Kinship's mascot for the last five years and in all that time, Lonnie Kotasek has played Kip.

Kotasek is also president of the Pro Kinship board.

Kotasek has volunteered with Pro Kinship for seven years, and from the beginning, he has taken on many roles. If they needed an Easter Bunny, he would do it. If they needed a Santa Claus for Christmas, he would put on the red suit. When it was time for Pro Kinship to have a mascot of their own, he was a natural fit.

Kotasek said the idea to create a Pro Kinship mascot was actually suggested by the staff at SouthPoint Credit Union.

"That's all it took," Kotasek said. "I pondered over it, trying to figure out what kind of mascot I could get. I came up with the teddy bear because everyone loves teddy bears."

Kotasek said at first, he assume he would dress up as Kip one time and then someone else would take over, but he quickly found out he liked the gig.

Kotasek said he never felt silly or embarrassed to put on the Kip costume.

"It’s about bringing awareness to the community and putting yourself out there and showing kids that it is OK to have fun," he said.

Kip’s appearance has changed over five years. At first he was just a normal bear, but after talking to some professional mascots, they decided to add a jersey to tie him to Pro Kinship. Kip's jersey number is 88, the year Pro Kinship first started in New Ulm.

Recently, Kip has switched to a hockey jersey, jean shorts and tennis shoes. The shoes give Kotasek greater freedom to move around comfortably. He has also started wearing brown gloves to give himself greater dexterity in the costume.

"The response to Kip has been phenomenal," Kotasek said.

Kotasek remembers one year at the fair he was approached by an elderly woman asking for a hug because he resembled a bear her late husband won for her at the fair.

During a Cinco De Mayo event that coincide with an area prom, a young woman in a prom dress wanted a photo with Kip because she got a photo with him every year.

Two years ago, Kip traveled to the Meeker County Fair to assist the Kinship organization in the Litchfield area. There he met an autistic girl who opened up to Kip. This last year, Kip returned to the Meeker County Fair and that girl's entire family showed up to see him.

"They were all excited to see me because it was the first time she came out of her shell," she said. "I never in my wildest dreams thought that I would have an impact as Kip the Bear, as I have."

Kotasek said in 2025 when he learned that Coats of Kid was seeing a higher-than-normal demand, he jumped at the chance to help fundraise.

For 48 hours, Kotasek stood on the roof of the Franklin for 48 hours straight to raise money or take donations.

Beran said with the Coats for Kids program, they are looking to provide new coats and snow pants for kids.

"The idea is to give these kids something new because often kids in need get used or hand-me-downs," Beran said. "They deserve new stuff, like the other kids."

For this reason, they will accept new coat donations, but will also accept cash donations to let them buy new winter items.

Beran said during Kip's 48 hours on the Franklin, they had a donation box below and many of the local businesses were generous in their support.

Looking to 2026, Beran said the referral requests could be even higher than last year. She already has 41 referrals on her desk.

In order to get ahead, Pro Kinship already has a plan for Kips next stunt.

"I will be on a stationary bike at Best Western and will ride that bike for 48 hours," Kotasek said. "It is going to take its toll on me, but the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one."

Kotasek said his 48-hours on the Franklin last year were an endurance test and the stationary bike stunt will be similar.

"I take the responsibility seriously," he said. "I want to be the one who makes sure kids are warm."

During Kip's stationary bike endurance test, take place from 12 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11 to 12 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13 at the Best Wester Plus. The event will coinicde with a bake sale and craft sale at the Best Western.

Beran said there will be a drop box set up for people who want to donate new coats at the event, but there will also be kids carnival games set during the event. The public is encouraged to show up, give to a worthy cause and also cheer Kip on as he completes his task.

PRO Kinship has been in New Ulm since 1988. It was originally known as People Reaching Out (PRO). The program was started by social workers and school staff who saw a need for mentoring to help kids who were struggling or maybe coming from a single-parent family. In 1996, the organization became affiliated with the nationwide Kinship organization. The organization kept the PRO acronym.

The organization has been coordinating mentor programs for 30 years across Brown County. This includes community-based, group mentoring and academic mentoring.

The Coats for Kids program was added five years ago.

Anyone looking to donate to Coats for Kids may send monetary donations to Pro Kinship for Kids, P.O. Box 666, New Ulm, MN 56073.

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