Press Release
Build-A-Bear Workshop® and the Chicago Cubs Become beary best friends at Wrigley field
Build-A-Bear Workshop Founder and Chief Executive Bear Maxine Clark commented, "We are thrilled to be partnering with the Chicago Cubs. Teddy bears are known for their hugs and we expect "Clark Bear" along will be giving and getting a lot of hugs with kids of all ages who attend the game. The Chicago Cubs organization is a wonderful community treasure and we are pleased to be working with them this year and hope this will be one of many collaborations in the future."
As part of Build-A-Bear Workshop's partnership with the Chicago Cub's, the
company was invited to provide an individual to sing the National Anthem at
the sponsored game. Build-A-Bear Workshop created a company-wide talent search
to find an associate to sing the National Anthem on game day. Associates from
all across the country sent in video tapes of their renditions of the National
Anthem. After being reviewed by a panel of judges, the decision was made that
Jessica Leonard, a store associate at Montgomery Mall, in Bethesda, MD, was
selected to sing the national anthem at Wrigley Field for the Build-A-Bear Workshop
sponsored game on July 8th.
Build-A-Bear Workshop was also invited to provide someone to throw out the first
pitch of the game. 15 year old Jimmy Klocke, an avid high school baseball player
and one of the first members of the company's Cub Advisory Board was asked to
do the honor of throwing the first pitch. The Build-A-Bear Workshop cub advisory
board is a group of children ages 6-16 who have been involved in helping bring
a cub-like perspective to the company with regard to merchandise and related
merchandise programming.
Among the special Guests who will attend the game as part of Build-A-Bear Workshop's participation are children from Chicago Children's Memorial Hospital. Earlier this year, Build-A-Bear Workshop partnered with the local hospital for its Nikki's Bear tour to raise money and create awareness for children's cancer. Build-A-Bear Workshop was inspired to create Nikki's Bear, and Nikki's Bear programs to support children's cancer in memory of a remarkable girl - Nikki Giampolo - a 15-year old from Connecticut who lost her life to cancer on New Year's Day 2002. The children from Children's Memorial Hospital and their families will join Build-A-Bear Workshop at the game as part of the company's continued effort to create awareness for children's cancer.
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 assembly line that combines experience with purchase.
Build-A-Bear Workshop is the innovator and leader of the make-your-own-stuffed-animal
concept for mall-base retailing and currently operates 124 stores in 35 states,
and a very successful e-commerce business. There will be more than 150 locations
in the USA by the end of 2003. Canada represents the first steps for Build-A-Bear
Workshop into the global marketplace, with four stores opening over the next
few months in Edmonton, Calgary, Mississauga, and Vancouver. For more information,
call (888) 560-BEAR (2327) or visit the company's award-winning web site at
www.buildabear.com