ST. LOUIS, MO--(Marketwire - January 20, 2010) - Build-A-Bear Workshop (
Build-A-Bear Workshop® has taken a leading role in recognizing efforts of young people to help those in need through its Huggable Heroes® program. Huggable Heroes are young leaders who Build-A-Bear Workshop recognizes, honors and cele-bear-ates each year for providing extraordinary service in their communities and around the world. The seventh annual search for these special people, ranging in age from eight to 18, is now on. Anyone and everyone, ages eight and above, are eligible to nominate a candidate (and kids can nominate themselves) by visiting buildabear.com/huggableheroes or by picking up an entry form at a participating Build-A-Bear Workshop store in the United States and Canada. Nominations will be accepted through Feb. 26, 2010.
Throughout the years, Build-A-Bear Workshop has heard thousands of amazing stories of young people who do things both big and small to help improve other peoples' lives. Projects have ranged from helping children in underdeveloped countries to supporting cancer and diabetes research, organizing toy drives and sending care packages to our troops overseas. Past Huggable Heroes have included such inspiring young people as:
Patrick Pedraja, 13, of Palm Harbor, Fla., who helped add 15,000 new donors to the National Marrow registry and raised $160,000 to support the effort. Patrick demonstrated uncommon creativity and entrepreneurship by selling ads on his bald head and by speaking to groups and businesses to encourage others to get involved.
Mimi Ausland, 12, of Bend, Ore., who created two Web sites to help collect donations to feed homeless dogs and cats in animal shelters across the country.
And Katie Stagliano, 10, of Summerville, S.C., who started "Launch Katie's Dream" to help see to it that no child goes hungry. She plants vegetable gardens and donates the harvests to soup kitchens and organizations that help feed those in need.
Recognition inspires others
"I think we are looking at another Greatest Generation," said Build-A-Bear Workshop Founder and Chief Executive Bear Maxine Clark. "Our challenge is to find more kids like Patrick, Mimi and Katie who are stepping up to help in so many creative ways. By telling their stories through our Huggable Heroes program, we know we can inspire many others to do the same at a time when citizen service is needed most."
This year, Build-A-Bear Workshop will recognize 10 Huggable Heroes. Each 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 501(c)(3) charity of each Huggable Hero's choice). In addition, the Huggable Heroes will win a trip for themselves and a parent to St. Louis, the home of Build-A-Bear Workshop World Bearquarters. During their visit, the 2010 Huggable Heroes will meet each other, be honored for their good deeds and participate in a photo shoot for the 2011 Build-A-Bear Workshop Huggable Heroes Calendar.
About Build-A-Bear Workshop
Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. is the leading and only global company that
offers an interactive make-your-own stuffed animal retail-entertainment
experience. Founded in 1997, the Company and its franchisees currently
operate more than 400 Build-A-Bear Workshop stores worldwide, including
company-owned stores in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, the United
Kingdom, Ireland and France, and franchise stores in Europe, Asia,
Australia and Africa. In 2007, the interactive experience was enhanced --
all the way to CyBEAR™ space -- with the launch of
buildabearville.com®, the company's virtual world stuffed with fun. The
company was named to the 2009 FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For®
list. Build-A-Bear Workshop (
TRADEMARKS
We would like to thank you for your interest in covering our business. As you write your story, we would ask that you use our full name: Build-A-Bear Workshop and that when referencing the process of making stuffed animals you use the word "make" not "build."
Build-A-Bear Workshop is our well-known trade name and our registered trademark of Build-A-Bear Retail Management, Inc. Build-A-Bear Workshop should only be used in capital letters to refer to our products and services and should not be used as a verb.
To view this release in a media-rich format, go to: http://www.pwrnewmedia.com/2010/babw00120huggableheroes/index.html
Contact Information: Katie Zeidman 314-727-5700 x 107 Kris Brill 314-780-1332