Press Release

ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 27, 2005--Build-A-Bear Workshop(R) (NYSE:BBW) announced that it is awarding over $140,000 in cash grants to domestic pet programs across the United States. Twenty-three organizations are receiving grants for a variety of services intended for the direct care of animals.

Grant recipients include:

• Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter - East Hanover, NJ Promotes responsible pet ownerships and strives to improve the quality of life for companion animals.
• The Bangor Humane Society - Bangor, ME Rescues abused and neglected animals, offers spay/neuter services to all adopted animals in an effort to control overpopulation, and provides education and advocacy on animal welfare issues.
• Texas Hearing and Service Dogs - Austin, TX Brings increased independence, security and unconditional love to individuals living with hearing impairments and mobility challenges through partnerships with a working Hearing or Service Dog.
• Equine Rescue Incorporated - Walden, NY Provides care for neglected, abandoned and abused horses, as well as offering rehabilitation and adoption services.
• Arizona Animal Welfare League - Phoenix, AZ Provides care, protection and loving compassion for the life of the animals entrusted to them.
• Humane Solutions, Inc. - Hopewell Junction, NY Dedicated to helping homeless, abandoned and abused cats and kittens.
• Humane Society of Broward County - Ft. Lauderdale, FL Provides shelter, aid and responsible adoptions to animals entrusted to them. The organization also educates the community about respect and kindness to all animals.
• Banfield Charitable Trust - Portland, OR Gives back to the communities served by the 450 Banfield Pet Hospitals and helps advance veterinary medicine.
• Yankee Golden Retriever Rescue - Hudson, MA Provides veterinary care and adoptive homes for golden retrievers who are abandoned, mistreated and neglected.
• Doris Day Animal Foundation - Washington, DC Creates a society more compassionate to animals, a goal it strives to achieve by educating the public on important issues such as pet overpopulation and abuse.
• Service Dogs for America - Jud, ND Helps physically challenged individuals gain greater independence through the use of trained and certified assistance dogs.
• Patuxent Animal Welfare Society (P.A.W.S.) - Lusby, MD Supports humane education, pet rescue, and the adoption of healthy, social pets to suitable homes.
• Golden Retriever Rescue and Adoption of Needy Dogs - Louisville, KY Brightens futures for displaced golden retrievers and educates the public on the issue of responsible pet ownership.
• The Horse Rescue of North Scottsdale, Inc. - Cave Creek, AZ Rescues unwanted, abused and abandoned horses.
• Siamese Cat Rescue Center, Inc. - Locust Dale, VA Rescues abused and abandoned Siamese cats and finds permanent homes for the animals.
• Rover Rescue - Redondo Beach, CA Rescues homeless dogs from Los Angeles animal shelters and saves them from euthanasia.
• Precious Paws Rescue and Adoption, Inc. - Van Buren, ME Improves the health and welfare of abandoned cats and kittens, and reduces over-population and abandonment rates.
• Paw'd Squad Animal Rescue - Burbank, CA Rescues unwanted animals in the Los Angeles area and provides them with medical care, nutritional food and love until a permanent home is found.
• St. Charles Humane Society - St. Louis, MO Promotes responsible pet ownership and advocates for animal welfare.
• Mental Health Association in Lake County - Highland, IN Provides a select set of mental health and outreach services for clients and families while promoting good mental health through the human-animal bond.
• Sit Stay Read! Inc. - Chicago, IL Improves literacy skills and fosters a love of learning in disadvantaged children. This is accomplished through individual attention from fluency tutors and the use of specially trained dogs.
• Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota - Minneapolis, MN Enhances the quality of life for individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or disabled by creating mutually beneficial partnerships with specially trained dogs.
• The Peacock Foundation - Los Angeles, CA Helps children who have been affected by grief, loss and trauma by providing them with therapeutic animal interaction.

Build-A-Bear Workshop(R) giving programs focus on improving communities and impacting lives through meaningful philanthropic programs that support causes for children, families and animals. Bearemy's Kennel Pals(R) is a line of plush dogs that generates funds for the support of pet programs. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each full-sized Bearemy's Kennel Pals friend is donated to domestic pet programs including local animal shelters, stray pet rescue and rehabilitation organizations and pet education programs. The Bearemy's Kennel Pals grant program began awarding funds in 2004 and has now distributed over $915,000.

The newest addition to the Bearemy's Kennel Pals line is the Husky, available in all stores beginning Oct. 28. A portion of the proceeds from the Husky will also go to support domestic pet programs. A special gift with purchase is available Oct. 29 and Oct. 30. When a Bearemy's Kennel Pals friend is purchased on these days, Guests will receive a free play-doggie bowl. For a domestic pet grant application visit http://www.buildabear.com/aboutUs/community/bearscanhelp/Grants.aspx.

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. Founded in St Louis in 1997, the company currently operates more than 200 stores in the United States and Canada. The addition of stores in Europe, Asia and Australia make Build-A-Bear Workshop the leader in the teddy bear business. In November 2004, the company expanded the make-your-own concept from stuffed animals to dolls with the opening of its first friends 2B made(R) stores, which feature doll making. Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE: BBW) posted total revenue of $302 million in fiscal 2004. For more information, call 888.560.BEAR (2327) or visit the company's award-winning Web sites at www.buildabear.com and www.friends2bmade.com.

TRADEMARKS

We would like to thank you for your interest in covering our business. As you write your story we would like to ask that you use our full Name: Build-A-Bear Workshop(R) and that when referencing the process of making stuffed animals you use the word "make" not "build".

Build-A-Bear Workshop(R) is our well-known trade name and our registered trademark of Build-A-Bear Workshop, 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.

CONTACT: Build-A-Bear Workshop, St. Louis
Shawn Bertani, 314-423-8000 ext. 5366
or 314-452-6391
shawnb@buildabear.com
or
Katy Lachky, 314-423-8000 ext. 5379
katyl@buildabear.com

SOURCE: Build-A-Bear Workshop