Build-A-Bear Workshop Supports JDRF in November National Diabetes Awareness Month

ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Build-A-Bear Workshop^®, the interactive retailer of customized stuffed animals, announced today the continuation of its support for JDRF in honor of National Diabetes Awareness Month. Throughout November, Build-A-Bear Workshop Guests are invited to support JDRF by adding $1 or more to their total purchase at Build-A-Bear Workshop stores in the United States and online at buildabear.com^®. Over the last nine years, the Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation has donated more than $700,000 to JDRF. All store locations in Canada will also be offering special purple satin hearts available for $1 to support JDRF.

“Every dollar donated through this campaign, whether in store or online, makes a tremendous impact on our research funding, helping to improve the lives of children and adults living with type 1 diabetes, while working toward a cure.”

Each year, approximately 15,000 children are diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) in the United States - that is roughly 40 children per day. “At Build-A-Bear Workshop, children are at the heart of what we do. We are proud to provide our Guests the opportunity to support causes that help children, like JDRF,” said Maxine Clark, Build-A-Bear Workshop founder and chief executive bear. “We join with JDRF in their dedicated efforts to finding a cure for this disease which affects so many children and their families.”

The goal of JDRF is to improve the lives of all people affected by T1D by accelerating progress on the most promising opportunities for curing, better treating and preventing T1D. As many as 3 million people in the United States are affected by an autoimmune disease and JDRF hopes to improve their lives through their research funding. Build-A-Bear Workshop invites Guests to join in support of the leading global organization focused on T1D research. Funds raised throughout November will be directed to JDRF chapters throughout North America. Since its founding in 1970, JDRF has awarded more than $1.6 billion to diabetes research worldwide.

“Through the support of the Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation, Build-A-Bear Workshop and its Guests, JDRF would like to express our sincere gratitude for their continued generosity in funding type 1 diabetes research,” said Deb Gokie, national director of corporate partnership development for JDRF. “Every dollar donated through this campaign, whether in store or online, makes a tremendous impact on our research funding, helping to improve the lives of children and adults living with type 1 diabetes, while working toward a cure.”

Build-A-Bear Workshop believes in the teddy bear philosophy of being good people and good bears. Throughout its 15-year history, Build-A-Bear Workshop has given Guests a voice in supporting causes that are important to them, including children’s health and wellness, literacy and education, animals and the environment. Since the company’s inception, Build-A-Bear Workshop has donated more than $31 million to these causes.

About Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.

Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. is the only global company that offers an interactive make-your-own stuffed animal retail-entertainment experience. There are more than 400 Build-A-Bear Workshop stores worldwide, including company-owned stores in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland, and franchise stores in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, the Middle East, Mexico and South America. Founded in St. Louis in 1997, Build-A-Bear Workshop is the leader in interactive retail. Brands include make-your-own Major League Baseball^® mascot in-stadium locations, and Build-A-Dino^® stores. Build-A-Bear Workshop extends its in-store interactive experience online with its award winning virtual world website at bearville.com^™. The company was named to the FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For^® list for the fourth year in a row in 2012. Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE: BBW) posted total revenue of $394.4 million in fiscal 2011. For more information, call 888.560.BEAR (2327) or visit the company’s award-winning website at buildabear.com^®.

TRADEMARKS

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