ST. LOUIS, MO--(Marketwire - July 25, 2007) - Ten amazing youths from the United States,
Canada and the United Kingdom are being recognized as Huggable Heroes®
for doing their part to make the world a better place. Build-A-Bear
Workshop® (
NYSE:
BBW) received more than 1,300 nominations for the fourth
annual search for Huggable Heroes, a program that rewards kids for their
outstanding acts of generosity and volunteerism and encourages other kids
to do the same.
The heroes' stories range from Rafaello Carone of New York, 6, who raises
money in support of children's cancer research, to Talia Leman of Iowa, 12,
who founded and operates her own non-profit called "RandomKid," which helps
kids help others by mobilizing them through highly motivating, empowering
initiatives. Sondra Clark, 17, of Tennessee is being recognized for
helping kids in developing countries obtain an education and break the
cycle of poverty.
The Huggable Heroes traveled to Build-A-Bear Workshop World Bearquarters in
St. Louis, Missouri, July 16-20, to meet each other and share their
stories. They will be featured in the upcoming 2008 Huggable Heroes
calendar, available at Build-A-Bear Workshop stores this winter. In honor
of the 10th birthday of Build-A-Bear Workshop, the 10 Huggable Heroes will
also each receive $10,000 USD ($7,500 USD in the form of an educational
scholarship and $2,500 USD from the Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation to be
donated to the charity of the hero's choice). For the first time, the
Company is also recognizing a Huggable Hero Associate, who will receive
$2,500 USD to be donated to the charity of her choice.
"This year's Huggable Heroes are truly an inspiration," said Build-A-Bear
Workshop Founder and Chief Executive Bear Maxine Clark. "The countless
hours they selflessly spend devoting their time to raising funds and
awareness to help make this world a better place is truly inspiring. We are
excited to honor and cele-bear-ate with them and hope that others are
motivated to do something good as a result."
2007 Huggable Heroes®, stories and information online at
www.buildabear.com.
Austin Dorrell, 11, Kansas City, MO
Raises awareness and funds for juvenile diabetes research
Ceri Davies, 17, West Midlands, U.K.
Committed to helping and caring for others
Maddison Babineau, 15, Ontario, Canada
Helped build a village in Kenya
Makenzie Snyder, 16, Bowie, MD
Makes the lives of children living in the foster care system throughout the
United States brighter
Rafaello Carone, 6, Dix Hills, NY
Educates and raises awareness in support of children's cancer research
Ryan Swain, 17, North Yorks, U.K.
Raises funds for those in need
Sondra Clark, 17, Nashville, TN
Helps kids in developing countries obtain an education and break the cycle
of poverty
Talia Leman, 12, Waukee, IA
Helps kids help others by mobilizing them through highly motivating,
empowering initiatives
Whitten Montgomery, 17, Louisville, KY
Raises money to improve the lives of children going through cancer
treatments
Zach Bonner, 9, Valrico, FL
Helps kids in distressed situations
Huggable Hero Associate
Pippa Fisher, 18 - Chimes Shopping Center, U.K.
Named the 2007 Associate Huggable Hero for her efforts to raise money for
various charities
About Huggable Heroes®
Build-A-Bear Workshop® launched the Huggable Heroes program in 2004 as a
way to recognize and honor young people that have impacted their own
neighborhoods, schools and communities by giving of themselves to others.
It is a program that empowers and inspires children to get involved and
establish change in their communities and around the world.
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 290
stores in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland. 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.
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.
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.
Contact Information: Contact:
Wendy Bain
314.995.3939 x110
314.323.5835
Sara Miller
314.995.3939 x106
660.349.9498