Build-A-Bear loves St. Jude

Build-A-Bear® is encouraging the next generation of givers to support their local communities through a partnership with St. Jude. Build-A-Bear Workshop lets kids celebrate the milestones in their lives while helping children in communities everywhere in the fight against cancer and other catastrophic diseases.

The “Cause for Celebration” program, announced March 7, 2011  was created for kids and families to celebrate with parties at Build-A-Bear Workshop locations around the country and make a $10 donation to St. Jude. Build-A-Bear Workshop will match the donation up to the first 1,000 parties booked.

To kick off the program, Build-A-Bear Workshop donated $15,000 to St. Jude. Build-A-Bear allows each set of party goers to create their own fundraising page in hopes that people will support St. Jude's research.

What is most inspiring about this partnership, is that the kids who participate in Build-A-Bear parties are the ones making the donations. It has become a movement for birthday girls and boys to ask for donations instead of presents. Our youngest generation is becoming the most passionate about helping others.

Build-A-Bear has been able to raise more than $700,000 for the research at St. Jude and has been able to donate thousands of gift cards to patients and their families.

It costs $1.6 million to operate St. Jude Research Hospital every day, 70% of those funds coming from public donations. If we can all learn from the generosity of these kids and join them in the support of St. Jude research, we can help save the lives of more children.