As you likely know by now, I love Build a Bear.  Not only do they make adorable plush of top quality but they also are incredibly generous, most especially to those in need.

Each year for the past seven years, Build-A-Bear Workshop, through their yearly Huggable Heroes searches, Build a Bear has honored and rewarded 58 kids for doing amazing things to make a difference and help others.  This year, ten Huggable Heroes, between the ages of eight and 18, from the United States and Canada, will be selected and honored for their good deeds.  Each of the ten Huggable Heroes will receive a prize worth $10,000 ($7,500 in the form of an educational scholarship and $2,500 from the Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation to be donated to the 501(c)(3) charity of each Huggable Hero’s choice).  In addition, the Huggable Heroes will win a trip for themselves and a parent to St. Louis, the home of Build-A-Bear Workshop World Bearquarters.  During their visit, the 2010 Huggable Heroes will meet each other, be honored for their good deeds and participate in a photo shoot for the 2011 Build-A-Bear Workshop Huggable Heroes Calendar.  How is that for terrific?!?!

The Huggable Heroes of the past have coordinated projects large and small, ranging from helping children in underdeveloped countries to supporting cancer and diabetes research, organizing toy drives and sending care packages to our troops overseas.  Past Huggable Heroes have included such inspiring young people as:

Patrick Pedraja, 13, of Palm Harbor, Fla., who helped add 15,000 new donors to the National Marrow registry and raised $160,000 to support the effort.  Patrick demonstrated uncommon creativity and entrepreneurship by selling ads on his bald head and by speaking to groups and businesses to encourage others to get involved.

Mimi Ausland, 12, of Bend, Ore., who created two Web sites to help collect donations to feed homeless dogs and cats in animal shelters across the country.

And Katie Stagliano, 10, of Summerville, S.C., who started “Launch Katie’s Dream” to help see to it that no child goes hungry.  She plants vegetable gardens and donates the harvests to soup kitchens and organizations that help feed those in need.

Entries are being accepted through February 26, 2010 at www.buildabear.com/huggableheroes or by picking up an entry form at a participating Build-A-Bear Workshop store in the United States and Canada.