Build-A-Bear Workshop Seeks Huggable Heros

The Build-A-Bear Workshop® Huggable Heroes® program, now in its 10th year, is accepting nominations for young people ages eight to 18 who are doing their part to make the world a better place. Ten Huggable Heroes will each receive $10,000 which includes educational scholarships, donation to a charity of their choice, and a mentoring scholarship to support their charitable entrepreneurships.

In celebration of the 10th birthday of its Huggable Heroes program, Build-A-Bear Workshop is joining forces with the prestigious Jefferson Awards for Public Service, one of the United States’ top community service recognition programs founded 40 years ago by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Senator Robert Taft, Jr. and Sam Beard. Through the Jefferson Awards’ GLOBECHANGERS training and mentoring systems, the newest generation of philanthropists recognized by Build-A-Bear Workshop will be equipped with the tools they need to build a lifetime of public service.

Each Huggable Hero will be paired with a mentor through the Jefferson Awards GLOBECHANGERS system for a year in order to develop valuable skills for writing business plans, networking and fundraising. The training and on-going support the Huggable Heroes receive from their mentors will enable these future leaders to grow personally and scale their efforts globally.

Over the past ten years, the Huggable Heroes have as a group raised more than $9.4 million, have collected more than 316 million items to donate and recruited thousands of volunteers to extend their efforts. This year, Build-A-Bear Workshop will name 10 Huggable Heroes who are making the most significant impact in their communities and beyond.

Nominations will be accepted through the website buildabear.com/huggableheroes or by mail until February 28, 2013. Nomination forms are also available at Build-A-Bear Workshop stores in Canada, the United States and Puerto Rico.

How many HuggableHeroes will be selected?
Ten Huggable Heroes will be selected from Canada, the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

How are the Huggable Heroes selected?
Honourees will be selected in three stages: Semifinalists, Finalists, and Huggable Heroes. The entries will be narrowed down by independent judges to 80 Semifinalists. Judges will then select 30 Finalists and finally the 10 Huggable Heroes.

What do the Huggable Heroes win?
The 10 selected Huggable Heroes will each receive $10,000 ($6,400 in the form of an educational scholarship and Jefferson Awards GLOBECHANGERS mentoring and training program valued at $1,100 from Build-A-Bear Workshop and $2,500 from the Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation to be donated to the Canadian cause of their choice). In addition, the Huggable Heroes will receive a trip for themselves and one parent, or legal guardian, to St. Louis, home of Build-A-Bear Workshop World Bearquarters, where they will be celebrated for their work, participate in a professional photo shoot, a Jefferson Awards GLOBECHANGERS BOOTCAMP and a day of service.

What a great opportunity for young heroes in our community! Nominate someone you know today, or share with your local school so they can do the same! Thank to Build-A-Bear from me personally, for sharing Warm Hugs Furever Bear with my personal hero, Cheryl Peters of Beautiful Side of Hectic.