Brand Marks Giving Tuesday 2023 with Donation
of One Million Books and 100,000
Bears
ST.
LOUIS, Nov. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/
-- Build-A-Bear Foundation, the 501(c)3 charitable arm of
Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE: BBW), continues its mission to add a
little more heart to life by sharing hugs, inspiring creativity,
and helping children and families in need. With expanded
partnerships and a promise to donate one million books and 100,000
bears through First Book by 2027, the organization has further
established its focus on children's literacy as a core pillar of
its charitable work.
Research has illustrated the positive influence of stuffed
animals in a learning setting, while exposure to books has been
shown to expand vocabulary and lay the groundwork for better
reading skills in life. Build-A-Bear Foundation has embraced both
of these concepts and is partnering with experts to create
opportunities for kids most in need of educational support.
Build-A-Bear Foundation has impacted over half a million kids in
2022 and 2023 through its partnership with First Book and with
initiatives like the "Buy A Bear, Give A Bear" promotion on
National Teddy Bear Day. Additionally, everyday purchases of
Build-A-Bear's Read Teddy support the organization's core
pillar of giving as a portion of these proceeds go to supporting
the foundation's literacy work by helping children and families
achieve their best futures.
Consumers are invited to join the cause this Giving Tuesday and
throughout this season via in-store pin pad donations and online
donations, as well as by making a purchase of Build-A-Bear's Read
Teddy.
EXPANDED PARTNERSHIPS
The longstanding partnership
between Build-A-Bear Foundation and First Book began several years
ago and reignited in 2022 for a five-year commitment, reflects a
joint pledge to inspire creativity through reading. Since the
kickoff of our most recent partnership in 2022, Build-A-Bear
Foundation has donated 225,000 books through First Book over the
last two years. The two organizations committed to reach even more
children and agreed to distribute one million books to kids who
need them most over the next five years together. They will also
find 100,000 furry friend Reading Buddies new homes by 2027.
"We are thrilled to share the joy of literacy through the
donations of books and bears to children across the globe," said
Chris Hurt, President of
Build-A-Bear Foundation. "As Build-A-Bear grows, our responsibility
to our core value of GIVE grows with us. Through the next few
years, we plan on continuing our focus on ambitious bear and book
donations and heartfelt partnerships to support those in need. Our
teams make all of this possible – along with every donation by
guests and associates – and Build-A-Bear Foundation is given more
opportunities to make furry friends a force for good
everywhere."
In addition to its work with First Book, Build-A-Bear Foundation
has formed partnerships with international organizations and
projects local to their global headquarters. Through donations of
funds and furry friends to U.K. charity BookTrust, the Foundation
is helping BookTrust encourage children and families from
low-income backgrounds to read and share stories together.
The Foundation also sponsors literacy labs in the U.S. to
inspire learning spaces with inclusive stories. Through these
efforts, Build-A-Bear Foundation is contributing to the broader
mission of ensuring that children have access to the resources,
skills, and support they need to develop a lifelong love of
learning.
BEARS FOR BOOKS WITH READ TEDDY
Build-A-Bear continues
to offer Read Teddy through Giving Tuesday and beyond. The lovable
furry friend – a classic brown bear with super soft fur and an
irresistibly cute smile – encourages a love for reading and
creativity. For every Read Teddy purchased in North America, Build-A-Bear will donate
$1 to Build-A-Bear Foundation in
support of First Book.
NATIONAL TEDDY BEAR DAY
As a result of the recent "Buy
A Bear, Give A Bear" event held on National Teddy Bear Day in
September 2023, 50,000 bears were
donated, benefiting children and classrooms in need. Beneficiaries
include First Book, BookTrust, Soles4Souls, and more.
ABOUT BUILD-A-BEAR FOUNDATION
Build-A-Bear Foundation adds a little more heart to life by sharing
hugs, inspiring creativity, and supporting children and families in
need. A 501(c)3 organization, Build-A-Bear Foundation's core focus
is to support children's literacy programs as a path to social and
educational equity. Build-A-Bear Foundation also provides financial
and furry friend donations to organizations that support children's
health and wellness, disaster relief, and families in need of
essential supplies. Since 1997, Build-A-Bear has donated more than
$22 million and 1.5 million furry friends to charitable causes
around the world. For more information, please
visit www.buildabearfoundation.org.
ABOUT BUILD-A-BEAR®
Build-A-Bear is a multi-generational global brand focused on its
mission to "add a little more heart to life" appealing to a wide
array of consumer groups who enjoy the personal expression in
making their own "furry friends" to celebrate and commemorate life
moments. Nearly 500 interactive brick-and-mortar experience
locations operated through a variety of formats provide guests of
all ages a hands-on entertaining experience, which often fosters a
lasting and emotional brand connection. The company also offers
engaging e-commerce/digital purchasing experiences on
buildabear.com including its online "Bear-Builder", the animated
"Bear Builder 3D Workshop" and its age-gated, adult-focused "Bear
Cave". In addition, extending its brand power beyond retail,
Build-A-Bear Entertainment, a subsidiary of Build-A-Bear Workshop,
Inc., is dedicated to creating engaging content for kids and adults
that fulfills the company's mission, while the company also offers
products at wholesale and in non-plush consumer categories via
licensing agreements with leading manufacturers. Build-A-Bear
Workshop, Inc. posted total revenue of $467.9 million in
fiscal 2022. For more information, visit the Investor Relations
section of buildabear.com.
ABOUT FIRST BOOK
Education transforms lives. First
Book is building a world where every child has access to a quality
education. We work to remove barriers to education and level the
playing field for kids in need. At the heart of our work are the
575,000 members of the First Book Network, the largest online
community of educators and professionals dedicated to children in
need across North America. This
Network is the key to creating systemic change. Through our
research arm, First Book Research & Insights, we conduct
studies that aggregate their voices to identify barriers to
equitable education and inform strategic solutions. To address
their needs, we provide free and low-cost books, resources, and
access to leading experts through the First Book Marketplace, which
uses aggregated buying power to support this underserved community.
Founded in Washington D.C. in 1992
as a nonprofit social enterprise, First Book is dedicated to
eliminating barriers to learning and inspiring young minds. Learn
more at FirstBook.org and visit our award-winning eCommerce website
at FBMarketplace.org.
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SOURCE Build-A-Bear Workshop