ManySiill Plan To Have A Helping Holiday involved with charitable organizaHelping Holidays tions. Build-A-Bear Workshop reassuring news in the midst of (NAPSA)—Anew survey finds the current economic climate. Most respondentsstill see charitable giving as a holiday priority— American Moms Make Giving Backa Priority encourages young people to make a difference in their communities and believe the holidays are a through its Huggable Heroes program, which recognizes leaders for be charitable. This year’s class of 10 Huggable good time to encouragechildren to Among more than 3,000 adult respondents in a Build-A-Bear Workshop survey (most of them moms), 63 percent, said their chari- table giving would remain about the same as last year and more than 24 percent said they would increase donationsthis holiday. ‘These responses are even more striking when compared to survey results concerning spending in other areas. For instance, more than half of the respondents plan to cut back on eating out at restaurants and 44 percent will forgo redecorating or remodeling their their outstanding charity efforts. set fo PO. ons pects Oe Source: Build-A-Bear Workshop ‘Tis the giving season 68% of Momssaythey have family traditions that focus on helping others Heroes, ranging in age from 11 to 18, raised funds and collected items valued at more than $22.5 million, and they volunteer more than 650 hours oftheir time each month. The company asked these young experts for advice on ways to make the holidays better for others. Here are some of their ideas: Start a food collection drive for a homeless shelter. * Go to a nursing home and Of those responding to a recent make handmade ornaments with homes. However, moms arestill they prefer products that benefit charities when selecting gifts. Just under 60 percent said their Gathercoats, hats and gloves for children who may not have warm clothing for the winter. Bake cookies and raise funds (Champ—A Champion Fur Kids), and endangered animals and their for a selected charity through a intent on buying for their kids. spending on children would remain the same this holiday season comparedto last and 18 per- cent said it would increase. More than 60 percent said they prefer survey, more than 60 percent said habitats (WWF Gray Wolf). Team up with Toys for Tots This year, the company will again partner with the Marine Toys products that benefit charities for Tots Foundation to conduct a Build-A-Bear Workshop offers a 5. Guests at each store will be whenselectinggifts. variety of options for charitable giving. For instance, when guests purchase the new Turner Owl, 50 cents is donated to First Book to toy drive the weekend of Dec. 3 to encouraged to purchase a furry friendor bring a newtoyto donate. During the month of December, guests are also invited to add a $1 residents. bakesale. Make a basket with some essentials and give it to another family; encourage your friends to do the same and host an event to makethe baskets. Foster an animal at a nearby animalshelter. * Use yourindividualtalents to “give back.” For example, if a child plays an instrument or sings, encourage him/her to gather donation (or moreif they so desire) to support Toys for Tots when they friends with a similar talent and shop Bear Hugs Foundation to online at buildabear.com.Last year, support other literacy and educa- through the generosity of its guests, wards to arrange musical holiday provide new booksto children from low-income families and 50 centsis donated to the Build-A-Bear Work- tion programs. Other furry friends benefit domestic pet programs (Jack Rus- sell Terrier is a favorite in the Bearemy’s KennelPals series), children’s health and wellness causes check out either at the store or the companyraised nearly $400,000 contact local nursing homes, se- nior centers and hospital pediatric performances. Thepositive impact for the Toys for Tots program. of music on the recovery and imHave a “Helping Holiday” mune systems of children and the Survey results also reveal that elderlyis significant. 70 percent of moms think there are opportunities for kids to get For more information, visit www.buildabear.com.
