ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar. 21, 2012--
Build-A-Bear
Workshop®, the interactive retailer of customized
stuffed animals, announced today that it will raise funds for Autism
Speaks with the help of Guests throughout the month of April. This is
the eighth consecutive year that Build-A-Bear Workshop has supported the
charity, which funds research into the causes, prevention and treatments
for autism and advocates for the needs of individuals with autism and
their families. Guests can support Autism Speaks by donating $1 (or
more) when they check out at Build-A-Bear Workshop stores in the United
States or online at buildabear.com®.
In Canada, Guests may purchase purple satin hearts for $1 throughout the
month of April to support Autism Speaks. Guests can also give back at Bearville.com™,
the company’s virtual world and entertainment destination and from April
1 through June 30th, by a percentage of the purchase price of Bearville
Outfitters® Virtual Stuff Game Cards to Autism Speaks when
they activate their cards. Since 2004, Build-A-Bear Workshop has raised
more than $545,000 to support Autism Speaks.
“Build-A-Bear Workshop is dedicated to supporting causes that matter
most to our Guests, including autism spectrum disorders that affect
children and their families,” said Maxine Clark, Build-A-Bear Workshop
founder and chief executive bear. “We are proud to continue helping
Autism Speaks with their efforts and believe that by working together we
can make a difference for families and individuals affected by this
disorder.”
Build-A-Bear Workshop and its associates believe in the teddy bear
philosophy of being good people and good bears. Throughout its 15 year
history, the company with heart has shared the hug of a teddy bear in
local communities and abroad. Build-A-Bear Workshop has given Guests a
voice in supporting the causes that are important to them like
children’s health and wellness, animals and literacy, and has given more
than $30 million through its corporate donations and foundation grant
programs to these causes.
“We are so grateful to Build-A-Bear Workshop for continuing its support
of Autism Speaks,” said Mark Roithmayr, president of Autism Speaks. “As
we celebrate Autism Awareness Month, our ongoing partnership with
Build-A-Bear Workshop raises awareness and funds that will allow us to
continue research into the causes, treatments and diagnosis for autism.”
About Autism
Autism is a general term used to describe a group of complex
developmental brain disorders – autism spectrum disorders – caused by a
combination of genes and environmental influences. These disorders are
characterized, in varying degrees, by social and behavioral challenges,
as well as repetitive behaviors. An estimated 1 in 110 children in the
U.S. is on the autism spectrum – a 600 percent increase in the past two
decades that is only partly explained by improved diagnosis.
About Autism Speaks
Autism Speaks is the world’s leading autism science and advocacy
organization. It was founded in February 2005 by Suzanne and Bob Wright,
the grandparents of a child with autism. Since its inception, Autism
Speaks has made enormous strides, committing over $173 million to
research and developing innovative resources for families. The
organization is dedicated to funding research into the causes,
prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of
autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals
with autism and their families. In addition to funding research, Autism
Speaks has created resources and programs including the Autism Speaks
Autism Treatment Network, Autism Speaks’ Autism Genetic Resource
Exchange and several other scientific and clinical programs. Notable
awareness initiatives include the establishment of the annual United
Nations-sanctioned World Autism Awareness Day on April 2, which Autism
Speaks celebrates through its Light It Up Blue initiative. Also, Autism
Speaks award-winning “Learn the Signs” campaign with the Ad Council has
received over $316 million in donated media. Autism Speaks’ family
resources include the Autism Video Glossary, a 100 Day Kit for
newly-diagnosed families, a School Community Tool Kit, a Grandparent’s
Guide to Autism, and a community grant program. Autism Speaks has played
a critical role in securing federal legislation to advance the
government’s response to autism, and has successfully advocated for
insurance reform to cover behavioral treatments in 29 states thus far,
with legislation continuing to advance in more states. Each year Walk
Now for Autism Speaks events are held in more than 95 cities across
North America. To learn more about Autism Speaks, please visit www.autismspeaks.org.
About Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.
Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. is the only global company that offers an
interactive make-your-own stuffed animal retail-entertainment
experience. There are more than 400 Build-A-Bear Workshop stores
worldwide, including company-owned stores in the U.S., Puerto Rico,
Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland, and franchise stores in Europe,
Asia, Australia, Africa, the Middle East, Mexico and South America.
Founded in St. Louis in 1997, Build-A-Bear Workshop is the leader in
interactive retail. Brands include make-your-own Major League Baseball®
mascot in-stadium locations, and Build-A-Dino® stores.
Build-A-Bear Workshop extends its in-store interactive experience online
with its award winning virtual world and entertainment destination
website at bearville.com™.
The company was named to the FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For®
list for the fourth year in a row in 2012. Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE:
BBW) posted total revenue of $394.4 million in fiscal 2011. For more
information, call 888.560.BEAR (2327) or visit the company's
award-winning website at buildabear.com®.
About the Build-A-Bear Workshop Friends Count Celebration
Throughout 2012, Build-A-Bear Workshop® is celebrating its 15th
birthday and 100 million furry friends made. To thank Guests for helping
the company reach these milestones, Build-A-Bear Workshop is hosting a
year-long “Friends Count” celebration. The celebration includes in-store
events and charitable activities. The company is also inviting Guests to
share and read stories about others who have made furry friends at
Build-A-Bear Workshop at the website buildabear.com/stories.
For more information and updates on Build-A-Bear Workshop and the
year-long “Friends Count” initiative visit buildabear.com®.
TRADEMARKS
We would like to thank you for your interest in covering our business.
As you write your story, we would ask that you use our full name:
Build-A-Bear Workshop® and that when
referencing the process of 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®
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, Inc.
Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.
Shannon Lammert, 314-423-8000 ext. 5379
cell:
314-556-8841
shannonl@buildabear.com
or
Autism
Speaks
Scott Leibowitz, 609-228-7347
sleibowitz@autismspeaks.org
