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Corporate Social Responsibility
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1.18.2008 - 09:40am ET
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Search Is On For 2008 Huggable Heroes(R)
Celebrating five years; Build-A-Bear Workshop(R) looks for young people doing their part to make our world a better place
(CSRwire) ST. LOUIS, MO - January 18, 2008 – Young leaders have the chance to be
recognized and rewarded in a program that has just launched its fifth
annual search. Huggable Heroes(R) honors young people, 18 years of age
and younger, who are making a positive difference in their communities or
around the world.
Build-A-Bear Workshop(R) is currently seeking nominations for incredible
kids to be named a 2008 Huggable Hero. Twelve Huggable Heroes will be
selected and 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 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, participate in a leadership symposium, 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.
Nominations will be accepted for Huggable Heroes from now through February
8, 2008. Anyone is eligible to submit a nomination – parents,
grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, friends, teachers, organization
leaders or the young people themselves.
Now in its fifth year, the Huggable Heroes program encourages and empowers
kids to be young leaders and change the world. Past Huggable Heroes have
created programs that have made a difference in many ways, such as sending
packages to soldiers overseas, raising funds for medical research and
helping children in underdeveloped countries.
The public can meet some of the current and past Huggable Heroes on
January 19, 20 and 21, when they make special appearances in
buildabearville.com, a newly launched virtual world. Throughout the
weekend, more than 20 Huggable Heroes will interact with other characters
and share stories about the positive contributions they've made in their
communities.
"It's hard to believe the Huggable Heroes program is embarking on its
fifth year," said Build-A-Bear Workshop(R) Founder and Chief Executive
Bear Maxine Clark. "There are so many young people out there who continue
to set positive examples of compassion, caring and dedication, and we want
to give them the recognition they deserve."
"My experience with the Huggable Heroes(R) program has made a profound
impact upon my life – one which will never fade due to time or
distance," said 2004 Huggable Hero William Dunckelman. "In May, I will
graduate from high school, but my commitment to service learning and the
elderly will not end. It is not enough to want to change; I must be that
change."
2007 Huggable Heroes included:
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(R) 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(R) Associates will also be chosen as Associate
Huggable Heroes.
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.
The company currently operates more than 370 Build-A-Bear Workshop stores
worldwide, including company-owned stores in the U.S., Puerto Rico,
Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland and France, and franchise stores in
Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa. Founded in St. Louis in 1997,
Build-A-Bear Workshop is the leader in interactive retail. Brands include
make-your-own Major League Baseball(R) mascot in-stadium locations,
Build-A-Dino(R) stores and friends 2B made(R) doll locations. In December
2007, Build-A-Bear Workshop extended its in-store interactive experience
online with the launch of its virtual world at www.buildabearville.com.
Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE: BBW) posted total revenue of $437 million in
fiscal 2006. 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.
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