Press Release
Build-A-Bear Workshop®, First Book and Sesame Workshop team up for literacy
On Thursday, February 3, Elmo will meet and greet children at the Build-A-Bear Workshop store at Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois from 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. "We are very excited to be hosting this special event with Sesame Workshop and to offer make-your-own Elmo for our Guests. Elmo is a beloved Sesame Street character and we know our Guests will be thrilled to meet him," said Maxine Clark, Founder and Chief Executive Bear of Build-A-Bear Workshop. There will also be Sesame Street story book readings from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and from 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Children who attend will receive a free Sesame Street reading activity sheet and a special photograph of Elmo.
Prior to the store opening, at 9:30 a.m., Build-A-Bear Workshop will host a special private Elmo appearance for twenty children from the Fabela Family Foundation Success By Six program, an organization supported by First Book. First Book is dedicated to giving children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books. As part of the celebration, First Book and Build-A-Bear Workshop® will donate a book for every child in the Fabela Family Foundation Success By Six program. In addition to receiving the books, during the event these children will also receive a free Sesame Street® reading activity sheet, a photograph of Elmo and the chance to create their own plush Elmo. They will also receive a jumbo coloring book, compliments of Sesame Workshop.
For over 35 years, Sesame Workshop has been educating and engaging children and families. And as a nonprofit, Sesame Workshop puts the proceeds it receives from sales of Sesame Street products, including the special make-your-own Elmo plush at Build-A-Bear Workshop, right back into its educational projects for children at home and around the world. Elmo is planned to be the first of several Sesame Street characters available at all Build-A-Bear Workshop locations. "Sesame Workshop is delighted to celebrate Elmo's birthday at Build-A-Bear Workshop. Storytime and Walkaround Elmo are certain to make it a very special event for everyone," said June M. Archer, Sesame Workshop's Vice President of Licensing.
Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE: BBW) is the leading and only national company providing a make-your-own stuffed animal interactive entertainment retail experience. The first store opened in St. Louis in 1997 and as of January 2005 the company operated 170 stores in 40 states and Canada. With the opening of its international store in Sheffield, England in the fall of 2003 and the addition of international stores in Japan, Denmark and Australia in 2004, Build-A-Bear Workshop has become the global leader in the teddy bear business. In November 2004, the company also opened two friends 2B made® stores, the newest concept launch from Build-A-Bear Workshop. For more information about the company and its products call (888) 560-BEAR (2327) or visit the company's award-winning website at www.buildabear.com.
About Sesame Workshop
Sesame Workshop is a nonprofit educational organization making a meaningful
difference in children's lives around the world. Founded in 1968, the Workshop
changed television forever with the legendary Sesame Street. Today, the Workshop
continues to innovate on behalf of children in 120 countries, using its proprietary
research methodology to ensure its programs and products are engaging and enriching.
Sesame Workshop is behind award-winning programs like Dragon Tales and Sagwa,
The Chinese Siamese Cat and ground breaking multi-media productions in South
Africa, Egypt and Russia. These are among many Workshop endeavors recognized
for their deep understanding of children's developmental needs and the most
effective ways to address them. As a nonprofit, Sesame Workshop puts the proceeds
it receives from sales of Sesame Street®, Dragon Tales and Sagwa products
right back into its educational projects for children around the world. Find
the Workshop online at www.sesameworkshop.org.
About First Book
First Book is a national nonprofit organization with a single mission: to give
children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first
new books. In neighborhoods across the country, First Book Advisory Boards unite
leaders from all sectors of the community to provide books to children in literacy
programs, shelters for battered children, housing project initiatives, soup
kitchens, after-school programs and other community-based efforts reaching children
living at or below the poverty line. Since its inception, First Book has provided
over 30 million new books to children in need in hundreds of communities nationwide.
For more information about First Book, please visit www.firstbook.org.
Contact: Jennifer Mansell
314.423.8000 Ext. 5402
414.801.1146 cell
jenniferm@buildabear.com
Shawn Bertani
314.423.8000 Ext. 5366
314.452.6391 cell
shawnb@buildabear.com