Our Huggable Hero Inspiration
Nikki Giampolo was a young girl who loved life, loved children and loved teddy bears. She shared that love by giving bears and their hugs to all those around her, including her doctors. In 2002, at the age of 15, Nikki lost her life to cancer. Her family and friends shared with Build-A-Bear Workshop Nikki's story of courage and her hopes of helping children with cancer.
Nikki's generosity provided the inspiration for our Huggable Heroes program, now in its 7th year. Huggable Heroes, like Nikki, are special people who do things both big and small to help make the world a better place. Each year we are amazed by all of the young people making a difference in the world. Tell us about the Huggable Hero you know or nominate yourself through February 26, 2010!
A Huggable Hero may be someone who...
- works to preserve endangered species.
- reads to the elderly.
- teaches younger children to skate.
- raises funds to help build a village in Kenya.
- organizes toy drives for the holidays.
- walks animals at animal shelters.
- helps kids in distressed situations.
- provides assistance at soup kitchens.
- babysits for free.
- organizes clothing drives.
- collects eye glasses for the needy.
- shares books with children who need them.
- raises money for various charities.
- volunteers at the Zoo.
- spends countless hours educating others in support of children's cancer research.
- operates a non-profit organization that allow kids to help others.
- picks up litter.
- helps kids in developing countries obtain an education to break the cycle of poverty.
- raises awareness and funds for juvenile diabetes research.
