ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, 13 year-old Children’s Miracle Network Ambassador Mackenzie Scott announced the second annual Fire Truck O’Toys charity toy drive sponsored by Boxing Clever, Children’s Miracle Network, The St. Louis Rams and Build-A-Bear Workshop®. Mackenzie, a former St. Louis Children’s Hospital patient and the 2012 ambassador, is launching this gift-giving project to bring cheer to young patients hospitalized over the holidays.
Wednesday, December 19, at 1 pm, the antique fire truck will be loaded up at Boxing Clever’s office, located at 1017 Olive Street, St. Louis, MO 63101. Then, the Children’s Miracle Network Ambassadors, Mackenzie Scott and Camryn Akerson, along with Santa and all of the toys will be making their first stop of the year at SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital arriving around 2:00 pm. St. Louis Cardinal Matt Holliday will be there to meet the truck and help to distribute toys to families in Cardinal Glennon’s atrium.
Friday, December 21, at 1 pm, Santa and his elves will again load his fire truck with toys at Boxing Clever’s downtown office. Mackenzie Scott, Camryn Akerson, Santa, the St. Louis Ram’s mascot, Rampage and Build-A-Bear Workshop’s Bearemy® will ride the toy-filled truck to St. Louis Children’s Hospital arriving at approximately 2:30 pm. The group will be distributing toys to patients and their families.
“Being in the hospital during Christmas is a tough way to spend the holidays,” said Mackenzie. “Bringing children gifts for the holidays is a way we can help those who may not get to spend time with their entire families. Families celebrating the holidays in a hospital room are always in need of some extra cheer!”
In 2007, Mackenzie captured the hearts of the Build-A-Bear family when her story was featured in the company’s 10-year anniversary and Year of Friendship newsletters.
“The importance that Build-A-Bear Workshop® played in her recovery can’t be understated. They were her place of refuge where she was treated like a princess as she rode in on her wheelchair,” said Renee Scott, Mackenzie’s mother. Build-A-Bear has provided a donation of furry friends, and to help spread holiday cheer, Bearemy, the Build-A-Bear huggable mascot, will ride the Fire Truck O’Toys to help deliver the gifts along with Santa, Rampage and Mackenzie!
Now, in 2012, Mackenzie’s spirit has again grabbed the attention a new group of supporters, The Children’s Miracle Network of St. Louis and the St. Louis Rams. Each is proudly supporting her efforts to bring the patients of these two great children’s hospitals some joy this holiday season.
“Mackenzie’s time as the Children’s Miracle Network Ambassador is a gift to us. The staff and families at both of these Children’s Hospitals have been amazingly supportive to our family. We realize that no matter how bad our situation was, there were families dealing with so much more,” said Dave Scott, Mackenzie’s dad and partner at Boxing Clever. “In our daughter’s moments of fear, a simple gift helped her to overcome. Now she wants to give kids in her place a chance to feel that comfort, too. We’re lucky to have the resources and community support to help—it’s humbling to see so many support of her dream to give!”
The group’s collection goal is 1,000 toys. Boxing Clever is accepting new and unwrapped gifts for either boys or girls or online donations through the website http://www.firetruckotoys.com/. To make sure toys make it on the truck, all donations should be delivered to Boxing Clever by Monday, December 17. 100% of the monetary donations is used to purchase toys.
Learn more about Fire Truck O’Toys on its website http://www.firetruckotoys.com or get updates on Fire Truck O’Toys on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FiretruckOfToys.
Boxing Clever studies the “sweet science” of blending brand strategy with the enduring strength of great design. With every brand having its own unique requirements, Boxing Clever targets specific channels to reach its target: from traditional means to digital and street-level tactics. The agency is known for using innovative and engaging experiences with a visceral, emotive connection that deepens brand affinity and doesn’t patronize. Focus and efficiency makes all the difference. For more information, go to www.boxing-clever.com.
About St. Louis Children’s Hospital
Founded in 1879, St. Louis Children's Hospital is one of the premier children's hospitals in the United States. It serves not just the children of St. Louis, but children across the world. The hospital provides a full range of pediatric services to the St. Louis metropolitan area and a primary service region covering six states. The hospital has been recognized by USNews and World Report as one of America’s Best Children’s Hospitals, most recently on the USNews Honor Roll in 2012. As the pediatric teaching hospital for Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis Children's Hospital offers nationally recognized programs for physician training and research. For more information, visit StLouisChildrens.org, or follow us on Facebook and @STLChildrens on Twitter.
About SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center
SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center is a not-for-profit, 190-bed inpatient and outpatient pediatric medical center in St. Louis, MO. We specialize in neonatology, cardiology, pediatric and fetal surgery, and cancer services.
Our hospital is home to the Bob Costas Cancer Center, Dana Brown Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, St. Louis Fetal Care Institute, Dorothy and Larry Dallas Heart Center, St. Louis Cord Blood Bank and the Missouri Poison Center, which provides free statewide service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
SSM Cardinal Glennon cares for children of all ages from Missouri, Illinois and around the world.
For more information, go to http://www.cardinalglennon.com/.
Build-A-Bear Workshop® is proud to support Mackenzie’s efforts to bring the patients at St. Louis Children’s Hospital some joy this Holiday season. To help support Mackenzie’s efforts, Build-A-Bear Workshop will provide a donation of furry friends to put smiles on the faces of the children and their families staying at the hospital during the upcoming holiday season. Teaming up with Santa to help spread holiday cheer is Bearemy, the Build-A-Bear Workshop huggable mascot. Santa and Bearemy will distribute the furry friends to patients at St. Louis Children’s Hospital this winter to help make their stay a little brighter. Build-A-Bear Workshop believes in the teddy bear philosophy of being good people and good bears. Since the company's inception, Build-A-Bear Workshop has donated more than $30 million to causes supporting children's health and wellness, literacy and education and animals and the environment.