Press Release
BUILD-A-BEAR workshop® and the New York METS Play Ball at SHEA STADIUM; And HOST children from Memorial Sloan-Kettering at special baseball clinic
Also on August 2nd, Build-A-Bear Workshop and the New York Mets will be hosting
a baseball clinic with Mets players and coaches for children and their families
from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. The clinic will be held from 9-10am
on game day as a part of the Build-A-Bear Workshop Nikki's Bear program, a national
corporate initiative developed by Build-A-Bear Workshop and the Build-A-Bear
Workshop Foundation. The purpose of the Nikki's Bear program is to raise money
and awareness for pediatric cancer. A focus of the day will be a giant 8' replica
of Nikki's Bear which will be a part of the pre-game ceremony and clinic.
A 14" plush version of this bear was introduced in all Build-A-Bear Workshop
stores in January this year with a portion of each sale going to fund support
efforts for families of children with cancer. Representatives from Memorial
Sloan -Kettering will be on hand for the pre-game on field ceremony with Build-A-Bear
Workshop.
.Build-A-Bear Workshop Founder and Chief Executive Bear Maxine Clark commented, "We are thrilled to be partnering with the New York Mets. Teddy bears are known for their hugs and we are happy that "Shea Bear" will be giving and getting a lot of hugs on game day. We are also honored to be sharing the day with our friends from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and with this participation we want to bring greater awareness to the cause of children's cancer. The New York Mets organization is a wonderful community partner and we are pleased to be working with them this year and hope this will be one of many collaborations in the future."
"We are pleased to join with Build-A-Bear Workshop and applaud their efforts to raise awareness for research and treatment of pediatric cancer. We thank the Mets for their support of this wonderful program and are grateful for everyone working to achieve the goal of curing all children diagnosed with cancer", said Nina Pickett, Administrator of Pediatrics at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
Dave Howard, the Mets Executive Vice President of Business Operations, in commenting
on the partnership said, "We are similarly thrilled to be working with
Build-A-Bear Workshop this season," said "Tom Glavine and Mike Stanton
kicked off this great partnership with their in-store appearances back on June
7th. The young Mets fans who come out to Shea on August 2nd will receive an
extraordinarily special gift. We look forward to working with the Build-A-Bear
Workshop on additional exciting projects in the future."
About Build-A-Bear Workshop
Build-A-Bear Workshop is an interactive, entertainment mall-based retailer that
invites Guests of all ages to create their own customized stuffed animals through
an exciting bear-making experience. Build-A-Bear Workshop is the innovator and
leader of the make-your-own-stuffed-animal concept for mall-base retailing and
currently operates 130 stores in 36 states, and a very successful e-commerce
business. There will be more than 150 locations in the USA by the end of 2003,
with four stores opening in Canada this year, representing the first Build-A-Bear
Workshop stores to open in the global marketplace. For more information, call
(888) 560-BEAR (2327) or visit the company's award-winning web site at www.buildabear.com.
About Nikki's Bear
The Nikki's Bear program was created in honor of 15 year old Nikki Giampolo
who lost her life to cancer. Nikki loved life, children and teddy bears and
Build-A-Bear Workshop developed Nikki's Bear in response to her families wish
to share her story of courage and hope with others. Nikki's Bear can be found
in all Build-A-Bear Workshop stores and more information on the Nikki's Bear
program can be found on the website at www.buildabear.com .
About Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center is the world's oldest and largest institution
devoted to prevention, patient care, research and education in cancer. Their
scientists and clinicians generate innovative approaches to better understand,
diagnose and treat cancer and their specialists are leaders in biomedical research
and in translating the latest research to advance the standard of cancer care
worldwide. For more information, go to www.mskcc.org