-- Rafaello Carone of New York, 7, who raised money in support of children's cancer research. He has raised more than $750,000 for the Morgan Center, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. -- And, Talia Leman of Iowa, 12, who founded and operated her own non- profit called "RandomKid," which helps kids help others by mobilizing them through highly motivating, empowering initiatives. Talia has raised $340,000 for the various efforts in which she is involved.The 2006 Huggable Heroes® included:
-- Welland Burnside of South Carolina, now age 19, founded Suitcases for Kids, collecting more than 400,000 suitcases for children in foster care. -- Anthony Leanna, now 16 of Wisconsin, started Heavenly Hats, collecting and distributing more than 80,000 new hats to cancer patients.Among the 2005 Huggable Heroes are:
-- Autumn Faucher, now 9 from New Hampshire, raised funds and awareness for a sick Masai Giraffe at the Franklin Park Zoo, as well as; -- Hanna Pelican, now 15 of Colorado, raised funds for Cystic Fibrosis Research.2004, the first Huggable Heroes, included:
-- William Dunckleman, now 17 of Louisiana, created FAME -- Fine Arts Motivating the Elderly providing more than $30,000 of arts and crafts materials to nursing homes in ten states. -- And Rachael Lambin, now 17 from Nevada, created "Kids Helping Kids," a program that educates the community about asthma. Rachael also helped raise funds to support programs including a summer camp she organized.Nominations for the 2008 Huggable Heroes will be narrowed down to a field of 141 semifinalists, then 32 finalists and ultimately 12 Huggable Heroes. Seven winners will be from the United States and Puerto Rico. Two of the Huggable Heroes will be selected from the United Kingdom and Ireland, two from Canada and one will be chosen from France. In addition, two Build-A-Bear Workshop Associates will also be chosen as Associate Huggable Heroes. Each Huggable Hero will receive a prize worth $10,000 ($7,500 in the form of an educational scholarship and $2,500 from the Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation to be donated to the charity of the hero's choice and awarded in the winner's local currency). In addition, they each will receive a trip to a special location where the winners will be honored for their good deeds, meet the other Huggable Heroes and participate in a photo shoot for the 2009 Build-A-Bear Workshop Huggable Heroes calendar. Nomination forms are available at any Build-A-Bear Workshop store or online at www.buildabear.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. Founded in St. Louis in 1997, the company currently operates more than 300 stores in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland and France. The addition of franchise stores in Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia make Build-A-Bear Workshop the leader in interactive retail. 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® stores, where Guests can make their own doll friends. In April 2006, Build-A-Bear Workshop acquired The Bear Factory Limited and Amsbra, Ltd. adding company-owned stores in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Build-A-Bear Workshop (
Contact Information: For more information contact: Wendy Bain 314.995.3939, x110 314.323.5835 Crystal Howard 314.423.8000, x 5402 314.601.1911