About Kyle's Kritters Inc
[Mission Statement]
We believe no family should leave a hospital empty-handed.
Kyle's Kritters is a nonprofit based in Waynesboro, Georgia. We provide free, custom heartbeat bears to grieving families — delivered right at the bedside, during the hardest moments of their lives.
Each bear holds a 30-second recording. A heartbeat. A voice. A message. Something real to hold onto when everything else feels like it's slipping away.
-
We are a 501(c)(3) organization.
-
Every bear we give is completely free.
-
Always.
This mission started with one mother and one bear.
Founder Nichole Tootle lost her son Kyle in 2020. A heartbeat bear from the hospital gave her something she couldn't put into words — a way to hold onto his sound. Two years later, when she heard the hospital had run out of bears, she didn't wait for someone else to fix it. She started giving, one bear at a time.
Here's how a Kyle's Kritters bear reaches a family:
Step 1 — Community donations fund the bears.
Each bear costs around $50. Your donation makes it possible.
Step 2 — Bears are prepared and customized.
Every animal is assembled with a re-recordable sound module, ready to capture a loved one's heartbeat or voice.
Step 3 — Bears go to our hospital partners.
We work directly with bereavement coordinators and nursing staff, including Piedmont Augusta and the Medical College of Georgia.
Step 4 — A nurse hands a family their bear.
Right at the bedside. No paperwork. No waiting list. No cost. Just comfort, exactly when it's needed.
We are proud to partner with Augusta's leading healthcare institutions:
-
Piedmont Augusta — Augusta, GA
-
Medical College of Georgia (MCG) — Augusta, GA
-
Doctors Hospital — Augusta, GA
Are you a hospital, healthcare provider, or hospice in the CSRA looking to offer this program to your patients? We'd love to talk.
[By the Numbers]
+
heartbeat bears given to families
+
bears donated in a Q2-2026
+
Georgia hospital partners — and growing
+
founder, and a community of people who believe in her mission
Donor Recognition
As our community grows, we look forward to recognizing our donors in meaningful ways. Every act of generosity deserves to be honored.
Become a Donor Help a Family
Kyle's Kritters Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
EIN: 93-3464373
Your donation is tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. We are committed to full transparency in how every dollar is used.