Mattel Children's Foundation Announces Three-Year Signature Partnership With The Make-A-Wish Foundation(R)
24 Abril 2007 - 8:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
EL SEGUNDO, Calif., April 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Mattel,
Inc., the Mattel Children's Foundation and the Make-A-Wish
Foundation of America announced a new three-year national
partnership today that will help grant the wishes of children with
life-threatening medical conditions. The partnership builds upon
Mattel's 10-year relationship with the Make-A-Wish Foundation of
Greater Los Angeles. This national partnership includes: $100,000
in the first year to support wish-granting activities; the
development of unique Fashion Fever(R) Barbie(R) dolls and custom
Hot Wheels(R) cars for every new wish child in the United States;
and the granting of specific wishes through Mattel brands,
including American Girl(R), Barbie(R) and Hot Wheels(R). "By
expanding our partnership with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to the
national level, we can enrich the lives of even more seriously ill
children," said Kevin Farr, chairman of the Mattel Children's
Foundation and chief financial officer of Mattel, Inc. "We are
pleased to support the nation's largest wish-granting organization
and share the power of a wish." Mattel grants several wishes each
year. For example, this spring Mattel is working with a wish child
to design a game inspired by his battle with cancer. During the
last 10 years, Mattel has also supported the Greater Los Angeles
chapter and more recently Make-A-Wish(R) International affiliates
through the Mattel Children's Foundation International Grants
Program in Belgium, Greece and Holland. In addition to supporting
wish-granting activities, Mattel will make 6,000 custom Hot
Wheels(R) and 6,000 special Fashion Fever(R) Barbie(R) dolls, which
will serve as "ice-breaker" gifts for new wish kids in the United
States. Mattel employees also have the opportunity to volunteer
with the Make-A-Wish Foundation of North Texas in the Dallas/Fort
Worth area and also the Greater Los Angeles chapter through wish
granting, as well as sponsorship of the Los Angeles chapter's gala
and Season of Wishes events. The volunteer program is expected to
expand to other locations in the future. "We are thrilled that
Mattel is making such a great commitment to our mission," said
David Williams, president and chief executive officer of the
Make-A-Wish Foundation of America. "Mattel's generous spirit and
enthusiastic employees will help us bring hope, strength and joy to
our wish kids." About The Make-A-Wish Foundation The Make-A-Wish
Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening
medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope,
strength and joy. Born in 1980 when a group of caring individuals
helped a young boy fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer,
the Foundation is now the largest wish-granting charity in the
world, with 69 chapters in the United States and its territories.
With the help of generous donors and nearly 25,000 volunteers, the
Make-A-Wish Foundation has granted more than 148,000 wishes in the
United States since inception. For more information about the
Make-A-Wish Foundation, visit http://www.wish.org/ and discover how
you can share the power of a wish.(R) About the Mattel Children's
Foundation The Mattel Children's Foundation was established in
1978. With a vision of "making a meaningful difference, one child
at a time," the Foundation provides cash grants through domestic
and international grantmaking programs, as well as international
scholarships to children of employees, matching gifts and volunteer
grants for Mattel employees. In addition, the Foundation continues
its tradition of partnering with exemplary nonprofit partners.
Mattel has partnered with Special Olympics, Save the Children, the
Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA, the National Association of
Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions (NACHRI) and the
Children Affected by AIDS Foundation (CAAF) and most recently, the
Make-A-Wish Foundation of America. The Mattel Children's Foundation
is funded exclusively by cash donations from Mattel, Inc. About
Mattel Mattel, Inc., (NYSE: MAT; http://www.mattel.com/) is the
worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of toys
and family products. The Mattel family is comprised of such
best-selling brands as Barbie(R), the most popular fashion doll
ever introduced, Hot Wheels(R), Matchbox(R), American Girl(R),
Radica(R) and Tyco(R) R/C, as well as Fisher-Price(R) brands,
including Little People(R), Power Wheels(R) and a wide array of
entertainment-inspired toy lines. Mattel is recognized as one of
the 100 Most Trustworthy U.S. Companies by Forbes Magazine and is
ranked among the 100 Best Corporate Citizens by CRO Magazine.
Committed to ethical manufacturing practices, Mattel marks a
10-year milestone in 2007 for its ever-evolving Global
Manufacturing Principles and focus on sustainable business
practices. With global headquarters in El Segundo, Calif., Mattel
employs more than 30,000 people in 43 countries and territories and
sells products in more than 150 nations. Mattel's vision is to be
the world's premier toy brands -- today and tomorrow. DATASOURCE:
Mattel, Inc. CONTACT: Jules Andres, Corporate Communications of
Mattel, Inc., +1-310-252-3529, Web site: http://www.wish.org/ Web
site: http://www.mattel.com/ Company News On-Call:
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