Our Founder, Landan Hoenig, founded Teddies For Happiness in 2023 after getting the idea to host a law enforcement-based charity event earlier in the year after interning through Suffolk County Community College Criminal Justice Program with the Southampton Town Police Department on the East End of Long Island. Prior to creating Teddies For Happiness, Landan has actively volunteered in his local community, volunteering at his church's food pantry, Run the Farm at Bethel Hobbs Community Farm, Suffolk County Police Department's 6th Precinct National Night Out and Shop with a Cop events. With the goal of always wanting to help others, Landan set his sights on creating his own charitable foundation with the goal of being able to help serve the Long Island community he lived and grew up in.
Ever since being a young kid, Landan has always been interested in working in the criminal justice field; and still is very active in the field of criminal justice. Here is a list of all the work that Landan has been involved with in the criminal justice field.
Landancarter Photography: National Night Out (Suffolk County Police, Southampton Town Police) 2022/2023, SCPD Asian Jade Society Lunar New Year Event 2023, Suffolk County Police Department Community Relations Events 2022/2023
Self-acquired Internship: Suffolk County District Court
Suffolk County Community College Criminal Justice Internship: Southampton Town Police Department
Southampton Town Police Department: Seasonal Traffic Control Officer
Suffolk County Community College: Associate degree in criminal justice
Saint Joseph's University: Law and Justice Society (formerly Criminal Justice Club)
-Executive Board: Public Relations Officer (Spring 2024-Fall 2025)
-Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences: Criminal Justice Program of the Year 2025 Award (Was a part of the Executive Board and the club and worked hard with the rest of the members and Criminal Justice Department to have a lot of great events for Criminal Justice Month {March})