Barbie(TM) Celebrates the Holidays With New Barbie(TM) Wishes From the Heart Campaign

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Nov. 12, 2014) -

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This holiday, Barbie^™ is spreading joy across Canada, honouring loved ones with a unique Barbie^™ Wishes from the Heart campaign. From the beginning of November through December 31, Barbie^™ is placing loved ones first, by asking Canadian children to submit a heartfelt wish for someone special in their lives on the Barbie™ My Dreams website. Barbie^™ will donate $1 to Make-A-Wish Canada every time a wish is submitted*.

Canadians are also encouraged to spread social joy using the #BarbieWishes hashtag, and Barbie^™ will donate $1 for qualifying posts to a maximum of $10,000*. Barbie^™ will also celebrate the season by granting one wish submitted online!

"We are so proud to partner with Make-A-Wish and to do something meaningful for others," says Lu Huang, Sr. Marketing Associate, Barbie^™, Mattel Canada Inc. "Barbie^™, by asking children to make a wish for someone else, is teaching important values, such as kindness and selflessness. We believe children are never too old to dream and think big. And with Barbie^™, anything is possible, so their wish just might come true!"

How to Submit a Wish and Make a Difference

This holiday season, Barbie^™ is encouraging Canadian children to think of someone in their life who deserves something extra special, and to submit a wish on their behalf. Whether it's a much-needed vacation for Mom, a chance for Dad to meet his childhood hero, or a day of pampering for Grandma, Barbie^™ wants to know.

To submit a wish, children are invited to visit www.barbie.com/mydreams and either record a video message or draft a written wish using the Barbie^™ Wish Card templates. Submissions will be sent to the user's Barbie^™ My Dreams registered email address, and the wish will then be forwarded to its intended recipient for them to share.

Barbie™ will release a special compilation video of children describing their holiday wishes during the first week of December; and Barbie™ will make a donation of $1 to Make-A-Wish^® each time it is shared from the Barbie YouTube page**. Spread the joy using the #BarbieWishes hashtag, and all donations will go to help bring hope, strength and joy to children with life-threatening medical conditions.

Here's how the donations will be tracked:

• Facebook - Video wish/written wish posted from the Barbie^™ My Dreams website

• Twitter - Number of tweets sent including "Spread joy with #BarbieWishes bit.ly/1s8JM38. This @Barbie Wish from the Heart donated $1 to @MakeAWishCA <userwishsubmission>"

• Pinterest - Video wish/written wish posted from the Barbie^™ My Dreams website

• YouTube - Each time the compilation video is shared on one of the corresponding social media platforms from the Barbie Youtube page

"We're thrilled to partner with Mattel and Barbie^™ on this inspiring initiative," says Jennifer Klotz-Ritter, CEO of Make-A-Wish Canada. "We always encourage Canadians to wish it forward, and Barbie^™ is setting a great example for children during a time of year that's all about giving and hope. Barbie^™ Wishes from the Heart is a true expression of the holiday spirit."

About Mattel

The Mattel family of companies (NASDAQ:MAT) is the worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of toys and family products. Mattel's portfolio of best-selling brands includes Barbie®, the most popular fashion doll ever produced, Hot Wheels®, Monster High®, American Girl®, Thomas & Friends® and Fisher-Price® brands, including Little People® and Power Wheels®, MEGA® Brands, including MEGA BLOKS® and RoseArt®, as well as a wide array of entertainment-inspired toy lines. In 2013, Mattel was named one of the "World's Most Ethical Companies" by Ethisphere Magazine and in 2014 ranked No. 5 on Corporate Responsibility Magazine's "100 Best Corporate Citizens" list. With worldwide headquarters in El Segundo, Calif., Mattel's companies employ nearly 30,000 people in 40 countries and territories and sell products in more than 150 nations. At Mattel, we are Creating the Future of Play. Visit us at www.mattel.com, www.facebook.com/mattel or www.twitter.com/mattel.

About Make-A-Wish^® Canada

Make-A-Wish Canada is a dynamic wish-granting organization that brings hope, strength and joy to children with life-threatening medical conditions. Along with the national office, eight (8) regional chapters grant magical wishes to children in need from coast to coast. Make-A-Wish Canada is an affiliate of Make-A-Wish^® International. Make-A-Wish^® is the largest wish-granting organization in the world, making dreams and wishes come true for more than 334,000 children since 1980. For more information, please visit www.makeawish.ca.

For more information or to arrange an interview with a Make-A-Wish^® Canada or Barbie^™ spokesperson, please see below contact information.

*Up to $10,000 in eligible donations. Sharing must occur following the instructions in the rules and regulations.

**A donation will be made for each click on one of the corresponding social media platform icons, up to a maximum total of $5,000 in donations.

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