2009 Huggable Heroes Nominations Sought

You have seen young leaders volunteering in underserved schools, hospitals, nursing homes and disadvantaged neighborhoods. Similarly, there are young people who have raised hundreds – even millions – of dollars to help those with special needs, protect wildlife and preserve the environment. They volunteer their time and expect nothing in return – except maybe that you will listen to their positive messages and join them in their efforts to make the world a better place. Build-A-Bear Workshop calls these extraordinary young people Huggable Heroes and is announcing its search for the 2009 Huggable Heroes class.

Each year, for the last five years, thousands of people have helped identify the best young leaders in the United States and Canada by nominating them to be a Build-A-Bear Workshop Huggable Hero. The search for these special, dedicated and hard-working young people ages seven to 18 begins Jan. 16. People may download an entry form or nominate a candidate online by visiting www.buildabear.com/huggableheroes or they may pick one up at a participating Build-A-Bear Workshop store in the United States and Canada.

This year, ten noteworthy young people from the United States and Puerto Rico and two from Canada will be selected and named Huggable Heroes. Each will receive a prize worth $10,000 ($7,500 in the form of an educational scholarship from Build-A-Bear Workshop and $2,500 from the Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation to be donated to the 501(c)(3) charity of their choice). In addition, the new Huggable Heroes will each receive a trip for themselves and one parent, or legal guardian, to St. Louis, home of Build-A-Bear Workshop World Bearquarters, where the winners will be honored for their good deeds, meet the other 2009 Huggable Heroes and participate in a photo shoot for the 2010 Build-A-Bear Workshop Huggable Heroes calendar.