Build-A-Bear Workshop quickly grew from its original St. Louis location in 1997 into a stuffed empire of more than 275 stores today. To celebrate the 10th anniversary, Build-A-Bear Workshop founder Maxine Clark has launched several new charitable programs. One of her goals is to help the national forests grow as successfully as her teddy bear making business.

“Our guests come to Build-A-Bear Workshop to make friendships through their furry friends,” said Clark in a press release. “And we know they also want a friendly environment. What better way to create one than to build forests around the world, especially in areas where trees are a scarce commodity.”  

The initial “Friendship Forest” will include the company’s donation of 10,000 trees to be planted with the help of the Arbor Day Foundation in the US, Canada, and the UK. In addition to the donation, the Friendship Forest program will be present in all of the retail stores where customers will be encouraged to make a nominal donation ($1) to have a tree planted in honor of a friend or loved one. Customers will then receive a certificate detailing the gift.

Currently, the program has netted donations of 66,119 trees in the US, 5,752 in Canada, and 9,892 through private purchase of the certificates. Added to the initial Build-A-Bear Workshop donation of 10,000, this brings the total to 91,763.

The company is further encouraging the participation of its associates by announcing a company challenge for an additional 6,500 associate-donated trees, which Build-A-Bear will then match.

The proposed locations for replanting within the United States are the Huron-Manistee National Forest in Michigan, the Sequoia National Forest in California and the home of the grizzlies, Flathead National Forest in Montana. The planting will start the season after the campaign. At that time, specific recipients of the replanting will be finalized based on need.

“Build-A-Bear Workshop’s commitment will have a tremendous impact in national forests that are in desperate need of replanting,” said John Rosenow, president of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Donations made by the Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation, Build-A-Bear Workshop, its customers and associates will help restore wildlife habitat, clean the air, protect the soil and waterways and restore national forests in three countries for people to enjoy for generations to come.” 

Posted by Sascha Zuger on Jun 13, 2007 at 10:12 AM
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