#Stir4ACure Initiative Heightened Awareness and Encouraged Customers to Join the Fight Against Childhood Cancer
Wayne, NJ, 2015-8-24— /EPR Retail News/ — Toys“R”Us® today announced that through Toys“R”Us and Babies“R”Us® in-store and online customer donations, the company raised nearly $2.2 million during its fifth annual nationwide fundraising and awareness campaign benefiting Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation™(ALSF), a nonprofit organization dedicated to finding a cure for pediatric cancer. Throughout the program, Toys“R”Us encouraged social media users to show support for the cause and for Alexandra “Alex” Scott, the inspiration behind ALSF, by joining the conversation online using #Stir4ACure. Families across the U.S. joined the social media movement, sharing who or what they stir for.
Click here to tweet:.@ToysRUs raises more than $2 million for @AlexsLemonade thanks to customer & employee support#Stir4ACure http://toysr.us/PressRoom
“Toys“R”Us has been a fantastic partner for the last five years and we are continuously amazed by the commitment their customers and employees demonstrate in carrying out Alex’s mission to find a cure for all kids with cancer,” said Liz Scott, Co-Executive Director of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation and mother of Alex Scott. “We are so thankful to those who have helped ‘stir’ for a cure, whether it be through monetary contributions, hosting lemonade stands or raising awareness through social media. Each cup and act of kindness has enabled us to impact the lives of children and families fighting cancer in the U.S.”
Diagnosed just before her first birthday, Alex Scott began hosting lemonade stands at the age of four to help kids like her who were affected by pediatric cancer. Before she died in 2004, Alex raised $1 million through stands hosted in her name. Inspired by Alex’s determination, her parents, Liz and Jay Scott, established ALSF in 2005. Today, thousands of kids continue to host lemonade stands in Alex’s honor, “stirring” the most important ingredients of all into their lemonade – hope and support for the 263,000 new children affected by cancer worldwide each year. To date, Alex’s legacy has helped raise more than $100 million, showing that at any age, kids can make a lasting impression on their community and the world.
“Toys“R”Us is proud to continue Alex’s mission to help fight childhood cancer and to inspire families across the country to ‘Stir for a Cure’,” said Kathleen Waugh, Chairman, Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund. “Following this summer’s campaign, contributions from Toys“R”Us and the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund, along with donations from customers, have totaled more than $10.5 million since the inception of our partnership in 2011. We are incredibly proud of the support shown by our customers and employees, and of the funds generated to help ALSF find a cure.”
To jump-start the 2015 campaign, the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund, a public charity affiliated with Toys“R”Us, Inc., provided a $100,000 grant to ALSF.
To download high-resolution images related to the Toys“R”Us campaign benefitting ALSF, please visit:https://toysrus.sharefile.com/share#/download/sb4d7551e8ce41458
Charitable Giving at Toys“R”Us
The philanthropic mission of Toys“R”Us, Inc. and the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund is to keep children safe and help them in times of need. The Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund contributes millions of dollars annually to various children’s organizations, including those providing disaster relief to victims of large-scale crises, as well as those supporting America’s military families. The Fund also provides grants to leading special needs organizations, furthering the company’s commitment to children of all abilities. In addition to financial and product donations, Toys“R”Us, Inc. hosts in-store and online fundraising campaigns annually that raise millions of dollars for the company’s signature philanthropic partners.
About Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation
Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) emerged from the front yard lemonade stand of cancer patient Alexandra “Alex” Scott (1996-2004). In 2000, 4-year-old Alex announced that she wanted to hold a lemonade stand to raise money to help find a cure for all children with cancer. Since Alex held that first stand, the Foundation bearing her name has evolved into a national fundraising movement, complete with thousands of supporters across the country carrying on her legacy of hope. To date, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, a registered 501(c)3 charity, has raised more than $100 million toward fulfilling Alex’s dream of finding a cure, funding over 475 pediatric cancer research projects nationally. For more information on Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, visit AlexsLemonade.org.
Media Contacts:
Toys“R”Us, U.S.
Samantha Xenis
(973) 617-5306 / (646) 366-8826
Samantha.Xenis@toysrus.com
Cheryl O’Brien
(973) 617-4380 / (646) 366-8825
Cheryl.OBrien@toysrus.com