SWFL teen impacts community, honored with HS graduation parade

More than 140 cars, trucks and motorcycles rode past a Cape Coral home this weekend to celebrate the high school graduation of a local teen. Not only has she had a big impact on the law enforcement community and their families, but she is just beginning.

Megan O’Grady in Cape Coral was honored Saturday for her high school graduation in pandemic fashion with a celebratory parade in front of her home.

It was a big turnout, as the 17-year-old has touched hundreds of lives throughout her community.

O’Grady is the founder of Blue line Bears, a nonprofit helping the children of fallen law enforcement officers.

“She takes the uniforms of fallen officers and sews them into teddy bears and gives them to the children of those fallen officers as a memento and a keepsake to hold onto,” said Leigh Strand, a board member of the nonprofit.

Like many high school seniors, the coronavirus pandemic altered O’Grady’s graduation experience.

But Strand said the community wanted to make O’Grady’s day extra special.

“She has made over 720 bears so far, has shipped them out across the world,” Strand said. “And she is something special. So we wanted to surprise her.”

Over 140 vehicles drove past O’Grady’s home to say thank you and congratulations.

“I was up on top of my car here taking a picture,” O’Grady said. “And then I just saw them all coming down and just started crying.”

O’Grady said it wasn’t until this weekend she realized how big of an impact she has really made

“I didn’t realize how many people meant so much to me because of Line Bears until today,” O’Grady said. “Because they kept coming one after another.”

Megan’s parents, Suzie and Patrick O’Grady, told us this wouldn’t be possible without the community

“She wouldn’t be able to do what she does without the support from all of those people,” Suzie said. “And today was just a true showing of why we are so appreciative of that.”

“We are so proud of what she has accomplished, the people she has inspired, the things that she has done, and we look forward to see what she is going to do in the future.”

O’Grady graduated from Bishop Verot High School. She plans to attend UCF in the fall and major in psychology and nonprofit management.

“It means a lot because … when I started Line Bears, I really just wanted to impact people and help people who are grieving and need someone to be there for them,” O’Grady said. “And I think I realized today that I do have that impact, and I’m just really glad that I do.”