ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 17, 2012--
As part of the 15th birthday celebration of Build-A-Bear
Workshop®, the leader in interactive retail, over 25,000
stuffed animals will be made and donated to children who might not
otherwise receive gifts this holiday season. During the special weekend
of October 20 – 21, Build-A-Bear Workshop invites the first 100 Guests
in all of its U.S. stores to make a stuffed animal for free to donate to
the Marine Toys for Tots® Foundation to distribute to kids in
need in communities across the country. Stuffed with Hugs® is
a core program of Build-A-Bear Workshop in its eleventh year and the
weekend event is part of a variety of activities celebrating the
company’s 15th birthday.
“We are a company with heart and Stuffed with Hugs is a way to give
children the opportunity to give back. As we celebrate our birthday, we
also commemorate 15 years of giving back to important causes around the
world,” said Maxine Clark, Build-A-Bear Workshop founder and chief
executive bear. “We are especially pleased to partner with Cody Simpson
and Toys for Tots for this special Stuffed with Hugs weekend and to
provide our Guests with the opportunity to brighten kids’ holidays with
teddy bear hugs.”
Participants in Stuffed with Hugs weekend will be able to meet
Build-A-Bear Workshop mascot, Bearemy®,and enjoy
a variety of 15th birthday celebration activities. As a thank
you for helping, Stuffed with Hugs participants will receive a bounce
back coupon for a future visit.
“Every child deserves to celebrate the holidays,” said Cody Simpson, who
is kicking off the Stuffed with Hugs weekend by making stuffed animals
with Marine families in New York City at the Build-A-Bear Workshop store
on Fifth Avenue. “As a longtime Build-A-Bear Workshop fan, it is an
honor to support this opportunity to encourage kids to help other kids
and send a message of comfort and hope through a hug of a teddy bear.”
The need to brighten a child’s holiday is greater than ever this year,
according to retired Marine Corps General, Pete Osman, chief executive
officer of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. A recent U.S. Census
Bureau report cited statistics that reveal that more than one in five
children under 18 years old (or 16.1 million children) live in poverty.
The report also showed a yearly decline in median household income.
“With the generous support of Build-A-Bear Workshop, we will be able to
fulfill the holiday dreams of thousands of less fortunate children,”
said Osman.
Stuffed with Hugs will take place during regular store hours and U.S.
Marines may be on hand to collect the stuffed animals. To learn more
about Stuffed with Hugs weekend activities or to find a store in your
area, visit buildabear.com®.
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 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 like
children’s health and wellness, animals, and literacy, and has given
nearly $31 million through its corporate donations and foundation grant
programs to these causes.
About Toys for Tots
The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is a not-for-profit organization
authorized by the U.S. Marine Corps and the Department of Defense to
provide fundraising and other necessary support for the annual U.S.
Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program. Now in its 65th
year, Toys for Tots provides joy and a message of hope to less fortunate
children through the gift of a new toy or book during the Christmas
holiday season.
About Cody Simpson
With over 3.4 million Twitter followers, over 3.3 million Facebook likes
and more than 144 million YouTube views, 15-year-old pop star Cody
Simpson is already a teen phenomenon. Simpson, who is currently on tour
supporting Justin Bieber on Bieber’s “Believe Tour,” marked the recent
release of his debut album “Paradise” with a pair of sold-out concerts
at Los Angeles’ Staples Center. 2012 has been a banner year for Cody,
having kicked things off with his own sold out “Welcome To Paradise
Tour” and being named “Favorite Aussie Superstar” at the 2012
Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards. Simpson was also among the top stars
invited to participate in the 134th annual White House Easter
Egg Roll, and kept busy leading up to the release of “Paradise” by
joining Big Time Rush on the massive “Big Time Summer Tour” and
releasing a new interactive film, “Finding Cody,” via Warner Music
Group’s original YouTube channel, “The Warner Sound.” For additional
information, please visit www.codysimpson.com.
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 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®.
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.
Jill Saunders, 314-423-8000,
ext. 5293
Cell: 314-422-4523
jills@buildabear.com
or
Shannon
Lammert, 314-423-8000, ext. 5379
Cell: 314-556-8841
shannonl@buildabear.com