My company has several charitable ventures throughout this year.  For the month of May, there are 2 things going on.  First we are doing our annual "Stuffed with Hugs" event.  Our guests are welcome to come in and stuff 200 bears in each store for free and the bears are donated to a different charity (last year, kids with parents serving in Iraq, 2 years ago, kids effected by the tsunami in Southeast Asia, in 2002, kids of first responders in the NYC area, etc).  They also sell purple satin hearts for $1 and the proceeds go to different children's charities (cancer research, diabetes, research, autism awareness and the like).  This year the proceeds from the hearts & the bears are being distributed to the JCICS (Joint Council on International Children's Services).  One of their main functions is to oversee international adoptions, educate adoptive parents, check up on orphanages, etc.  So obviously this is going to be near & dear to my heart. 

 

For more information, check out www.buildabear.com or http://www.jcics.org/babw.htm

 

Heather