ST. LOUIS, July 20, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Build-A-Bear
and the American Red Cross today announced an ongoing partnership
to provide teddy bears to families when disaster strikes. This
month, the American Red Cross received a donation from
Build-A-Bear—a global brand kids love and parents trust—of 5,000
furry friends, which will be distributed during disaster-relief
operations at the humanitarian organization's discretion.
"Unfortunately, our Guests, friends and neighbors are impacted
by floods, fires and weather events each year," said Sharon Price John, president and chief executive
officer, Build-A-Bear Workshop. "Our partnership with the American
Red Cross allows Build-A-Bear to share the simple hug of a teddy
bear with those affected by disasters, after their most critical
needs are met. In conjunction with the generous volunteers and
employees at the American Red
Cross—who are there to assess each situation and provide
vital necessities, like food, water and shelter—we hope to help
comfort children in crisis."
"The Red Cross brings real help and hope after a disaster," said
Cindy Erickson, Red Cross of
Eastern Missouri chief operating
officer. "This gift from Build-A-Bear gives us another way we can
comfort the youngest survivors during a crisis. Whether it's a home
fire, tornado or flood, these furry friends will ease the trauma
for those we serve."
The 5,000 teddy bears have been allocated to the Red Cross' five
Disaster Field Supply Centers in Reno,
Nev.; St. Louis, Mo.;
Carlisle, Penn.; Atlanta, Ga.; and Dallas, Texas, from which the organization can
quickly deploy the bears to aid in comforting children wherever—and
whenever—disaster strikes.
For more information about Build-A-Bear Workshop, visit
buildabear.com and follow the brand
on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.
About Build-A-Bear
Celebrating 20 years of business in
2017, Build-A-Bear is a global brand kids love and parents trust
that seeks to add a little more heart to life. Build-A-Bear
Workshop has approximately 400 stores worldwide where Guests
can create customizable furry friends, including company-owned
stores in the United
States, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, Puerto Rico,
the United Kingdom and China, and franchise stores
in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Mexico and
the Middle East. The company was named to the Fortune 100 Best
Companies to Work For® list for the ninth year in a
row in 2017. Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE:BBW)
posted a total revenue of $364.2 million in fiscal 2016.
For more information, visit buildabear.com.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross
shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of
disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches
skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid;
and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is
a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the
generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more
information, please
visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or
visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
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SOURCE Build-A-Bear