Jim Cummings, the voice behind the bear, uses his gift to cheer up sick children in the hospital. He will call and speak to them in the voice of his gentle character. He has mastered not only Winnie the Pooh, but Tigger too! Often times this simple phone call is enough to spark a change in the behavior and outlook for both children and parents.
Cummings has heard from parents that "Pooh's" conversations have brought smiles that haven't been seen in six months. Not only does he work with terminally ill children, but he also works with autistic children.
During his hour long conversation with one such little boy, he was asked to perform the voices of all the different characters, and when he was finished, the boy's mother was in tears with him on the phone. She told Cummings that her son does not talk. His conversation with Winnie the Pooh changed that.
