Press Release
Build-A-Bear Workshop® Announces Writing Contest Winners - Grand Prize Winners headed to Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade™ in New YORK City
The contest was sponsored by Build-A-Bear Workshop as part of their celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Teddy Bear. As part of the writing contest, children ages eight to fourteen were encouraged to tell their Teddy Bear's tale to mark its place in history.
Two national Grand Prize winners were selected and twelve regional First-Prize winners were chosen from the continental United States. One grand prize and six regional winners were selected from two age groups, 8-11 and 12-14.
Bearrific™ Bear Story Writing Contest Winners include:
Name/Age: City: Story Title:
Grand Prize Winners
Maggie O'Connor, 11 Lake Zurich, IL "Loved Forever" (age group 8 -11)
Abigail Ardis, 13 Lebanon, TN "A Broadway Star" (age group 12-14)
Regional Winners
Western Region, Age Group 8-11
Diana Powell , 10 Leander, TX -no title-
Hillary Altenberg, 10 Santa Ana, CA "Beary's Adventure"
Western Region, Age Group 12-14
Elizabeth Wall, 13 Gresham, OR "In Teddy's World"
Clare Trayner, 14 Houston, TX "The Story Of Marshmallow"
Central Region, Age Group 8-11
Jacqueline Tesorero, 11 Mason, OH "Mission Of The Heart"
Marissa Wizig, 10 Leawood, KS "Helen: The Century Old Teddy Bear"
Central Region, Age Group 12-14
Kayla DuBois, 13 Indianapolis, IN "The Good Samaritan Bear"
Jeanette Minson, 13 Milwaukee, WI "Cozie Rosie Bear"
Eastern Region, Age Group 8-11
Erica Kicak- Alexandria, VA "The T.B.A.F.A. (Teddy Bear for
Vanderhoeven , 11 Adoption Agency)"
Kimee Moore, 10 Centreville, VA "The Bear Who Had A Heart To Spare"
Eastern Region, Age Group 12-14
Jillian Askren, 12 Vero Beach, FL "A Friend For Life"
Allyson Brown, 12 Indialantic, FL "Made From Patches"
"Teddy Bears have been an important part of children's lives for generations. The Bearrific™ Bear Story Writing Contest gave children across the country a chance to bring their own Teddy stories to life," says Maxine Clark, founder and Chief Executive Bear of Build-A-Bear Workshop®. The contest drew entries from across the country.
About the Grand Prize winning stories Maggie, from Lake Zurich, Illinois, wrote the story "Loved Forever." In her story, a teddy bear named Charlotte is shipped to America, and although she had all her parts, felt something was missing. After being purchased by a careless shopper, Charlotte spotted a toy store in the mall with bears on display without their stuffing. She jumped out of the shopping bag and onto this store's shelf. She was later taken to the back where she had her stuffing removed just like the other bears and put back on display. Charlotte felt very empty and lonely until a girl walked into the store and selected her. Her new owner then stuffed her not only with something new, but something extra special - love.
Abigail, from Lebanon, Tennessee, wrote, "A Broadway Star." She tells the story of a teddy bear named Broadway Star, or Star for short. In this story, Star tells the story of how she ended up on the shelf in Emily's room. Star was purchased to be a prop for a play on Broadway. A girl named Emily was given the bear as her prop in the play. After a successful run, the show was over and a man started to throw the props away. Watching the teddy bear about to be tossed with the other trash, Emily ran over and asked the man if she could keep it. In the end, the bear was very happy to be a Broadway star, but realized there was something better - being a little girl's teddy bear.
About the Contest and Teddy Bears
The contest was inspired by the origins of the first American Teddy Bear who
has a wonderful story of its own. As the tale goes, President Theodore Roosevelt
- who was known around the world as Teddy - was in the woods on a hunting excursion.
While hunting, he discovered that someone had caught a bear cub for him and
tied it to a tree. President Roosevelt refused to shoot the bear. This story
of his kindness quickly spread and political cartoonist Clifford Berryman drew a cartoon showing the President's
refusal to shoot an innocent bear. This cartoon ran in a newspaper in Washington,
D.C., and captured the attention of candy store-owners Rose and Morris Michtom.
They were so inspired by the story that they started making bears - including
one that resembled the President. As the story continues, the Mitchtom's sent
the bear to President Roosevelt, seeking permission to name the bear "Teddy."
As told in the Legend of The Teddy Bear, by Frank Murphy, the President most humbly replied:
"Dear Mr. and Mrs. Michtom,
I warmly thank you for your letter and the fine stuffed bear you made. I can
hardly wait to show my children. However, I don't think my name is likely to
be worth much in the toy bear business, but you are welcome to use it. I wish
you luck with your toy bear business.
Sincerely,
Theodore Roosevelt"
To celebrate the Teddy Bear Centennial™, Build-A-Bear Workshop® has
launched a
number of literacy initiatives including Bearemy's Book Club™, an online
club that
encourages reading and recommends books which have been selected by a panel
of experts. Bearemy's Book Club can be found at www.buildabear.com.
Build-A-Bear Workshop has also partnered with First Book® to put books
into the hands of children who would otherwise not have them. Together, they
have created a special new furry friend - Read Teddy™. One dollar of every
purchase of Read Teddy is donated to First Book. Their mission is to give disadvantaged
children the opportunity to read and own new books. The donations from the purchase
of Read Teddy will help the organization purchase books that will be distributed
through its 310 local advisory boards in communities across the country.
Build-A-Bear Workshop® is an interactive, entertainment retailer that invites
Guests to create their own customized stuffed animals. The company is proud
to be a part of the Teddy Bear Centennial™. Build-A-Bear Workshop currently
operates over 100 stores nationwide.