ST. LOUIS, Jun 09, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) --Build-A-Bear Workshop(R), the interactive entertainment
retailer of customized stuffed animals, announced initiatives today to
provide support to the Louisiana Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Rescue
Program (LMMSTRP)
within Audubon Nature Institute to help marine mammals affected by the
oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation is contributing $5,000 to Audubon
Nature Institute to aid the organization's efforts of helping marine
mammals affected by the spill. Additionally, between June 8 and June 27,
Guests are invited to help support this cause by making a $1 donation at
checkout registers in any Build-A-Bear Workshop retail location in the
United States.
"In just over a month marine life has been greatly affected by the oil
spill," said Laurie Conkerton, senior vice president for development of
Audubon Nature Institute. "We are grateful that Build-A-Bear Workshop
and their Guests are helping to provide much needed relief to these
animals in the Gulf of Mexico."
Coordinated by Audubon
Aquarium of the Americas, LMMSTRP is the primary responder for the
state of Louisiana for rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing marine
mammals (dolphins, whales and manatees) and sea turtles. Audubon and
LMMSTRP are collaborating with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
and the U.S. Coast Guard to ensure that they have the most up to date
information about the direction of the oil spill and any possible
animals in its path. When a call comes in for a distressed sea turtle or
marine mammal, the Audubon team will retrieve the animal and bring it
back to Audubon
Aquatic Center for assessment and treatment. It is anticipated that
the greatest number of animals affected will be sea turtles, such as the
Kemp's Ridley species which is currently migrating to the beaches of
Mexico to nest.
Build-A-Bear Workshop believes in the teddy bear philosophy of being
good people and good bears. Throughout its 13 year history, the company
has shared the hug of a teddy bear wherever needed in local communities
and abroad. Build-A-Bear Workshop has given Guests a voice in supporting
the causes that are important to them and through its corporate
donations and foundation grant programs, has given more than $25 million
to children's health and wellness, animals, literacy and other important
causes.
"Build-A-Bear Workshop is dedicated to supporting animal welfare, rescue
and rehabilitation causes and strives to provide Guests with
opportunities to assist causes that are important to them," said Maxine
Clark, Build-A-Bear Workshop founder and chief executive bear. "By
working together with our Guests, we all have an opportunity to help
save these animals."
About Audubon Nature Institute
Audubon Nature Institute is a New Orleans based not-for-profit which
operates Audubon Zoo, Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, Audubon Park,
Woldenberg Riverfront Park, Entergy IMAX(R) Theatre, Audubon Louisiana
Nature Center, Wilderness Park, Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species
Survival Center, Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species and
Audubon Insectarium.
To learn more about Audubon Nature Institute, please visit: www.auduboninstitute.org
or to donate, please visit: http://www.auduboninstitute.org/oil-spill-rescue-fund
About Build-A-Bear Workshop
Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. is the only global company that offers an
interactive make-your-own stuffed animal retail-entertainment
experience. The company currently operates more than 400 Build-A-Bear
Workshop stores worldwide, including company-owned stores in the U.S.,
Puerto Rico, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland and France, and
franchise stores in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa and the Middle East.
Founded in St. Louis in 1997, Build-A-Bear Workshop is the leader in
interactive retail. Brands include make-your-own Major League Baseball(R)
) mascot in-stadium locations, and Build-A-Dino((R)stores.
Build-A-Bear Workshop extends its in-store interactive experience online
with its award winning virtual world Web site at buildabearville.com(R).
The company was named to the 2009 and 2010 FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to
Work For(R)lists. Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE: BBW)
posted total revenue of $394.4 million in fiscal 2009. For more
information, call 888.560.BEAR (2327) or visit the company's
award-winning Web site at buildabear.com(R).
TRADEMARKS
We would like to thank you for your interest in covering our business.
As you write your story, we wouldask that you use our full Name:
Build-A-Bear Workshop(R)and that when
referencing the processof making stuffed animals you use the word
"make" not "build."
Build-A-Bear Workshop is our well-known trade name and our
registered trademark of Build-A-Bear Retail Management, Inc.Build-A-Bear Workshop(R)should only be used in capital letters to refer to our products and
services and should not be used as a verb.
SOURCE: Build-A-Bear Workshop
Build-A-Bear Workshop
Jill Saunders, 314-423-8000, ext. 5293 or 314-422-4523 (cell)
jills@buildabear.com
or
Shannon Lammert, 314-423-8000, ext. 5379 or 314-556-8841 (cell)
shannonl@buildabear.com
