Toy Industry to Gather for the 19th Annual Toys 'R' Us Benefit
April 20 2004 - 11:10AM
PR Newswire (US)
Toy Industry to Gather for the 19th Annual Toys 'R' Us Benefit Year
after Year, Toys 'R' Us Sets an Example in Corporate Social
Responsibility by Raising Millions for Children who Need More than
Toys WAYNE, N.J., April 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- On Wednesday,
April 21st, The Toys "R" Us Children's Fund, Inc. will host its
19th annual fundraising gala at the New York Marriott Marquis. Each
year, Toys "R" Us brings together industry executives, partners and
celebrities to raise money for special children. To date, the gala
has raised $54 million including more than $7 million raised during
last year's event. "The toy business is focused on making
children's lives better," said Michael Goldstein, Chairman of The
Toys "R" Us Children's Fund, Inc. "That's why each year, Toys "R"
Us sets aside an evening to bring together generous partners,
vendors, friends and celebrities to focus on supporting some of the
most important children's charities today." The black-tie affair
will begin with a cocktail party, followed by a dinner and
fundraising auction hosted by Rosie O'Donnell. A live performance
by GRAMMY(R) nominated artist Smokey Robinson will entertain the
guests. Auction items will include a walk on part in a Toys "R" Us
commercial, a one- of-a-kind portrait by Peter Max, a New York
Giants package and much more. All expenses related to the evening's
event are underwritten by Toys "R" Us, Inc. which allows every
penny raised through The Toys "R" Us Children's Fund, Inc. to go
directly to children's charities and organizations. The annual
event benefits more than 60 charities and organizations including
the Starlight Children's Foundation, the Juvenile Diabetes
Association, The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, the
Children's National Medical Center and Cure Autism Now, among
others. Since it was founded in 1992, The Toys "R" Us Children's
Fund, Inc. has donated millions of dollars every year to
organizations and charities that support the health and well-being
of children. Funds raised through The Toys "R" Us Children's Fund,
Inc. are used to support The Kids' Playroom Program, state of the
art playrooms in medical settings across the country, and
Children's Literacy, pre-literacy programs for at-risk children.
Toys "R" Us, one of the world's leading retailers of toys, baby
products, and children's apparel, currently sells merchandise
through 1,491 stores worldwide: 681 toy stores in the United
States; 578 international toy stores, including licensed and
franchise stores; 200 Babies "R" Us stores, and 4 Geoffrey stores,
and through its Internet sites at http://www.toysrus.com/,
http://www.babiesrus.com/, http://www.imaginarium.com/ and
http://www.sportsrus.com/. DATASOURCE: Toys "R" Us CONTACT: Susan
McLaughlin, , or Nicole Patzer, , both of Toys "R" Us,
+1-973-617-5900 Web site: http://www.toysrus.com/
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