The 2009 Huggable Heroes are chosen!

Twelve young leaders are named 2009 Huggable Heroes in Build-A-Bear Workshop Community Service Program! They are all committed to help make a world of difference!


Mimi Ausland, 12 from Bend, OR
Created two websites to help collect donations to feed homeless dogs and cats in animal shelters across the country.


Brittany Bergquist, 18, from Norwell, MA
Co-founder with her brother of “Cell Phones for Soldiers” which collects used cell phones
and with the funds raised from the recycling of the phones, buys prepaid calling cards to
send to military troops.


Robbie Bergquist, 17, from Norwell, MA
Co-founder with his sister of “Cell Phones for Soldiers” which collects used cell phones
and with the funds raised from the recycling of the phones, buys prepaid calling cards to
send to military troops.


Christine Crowe, 13, from London, ON
Started “Chunity” which comes from the words children+unity to raise funds for her
local children’s hospital, local women’s shelters and to help the homeless.


Kendall Ciesemier, 16, from Wheaton, IL
Started “Kids Caring 4 Kids” to inspire kids to care about others in need and channels
the funds raised through the organization to projects that help improve the lives of highly
vulnerable African children.


Cody McCasland, 7, from Colleyville, TX
Raises awareness on the abilities of individuals with disabilities.


Patrick Pedraja, 13, from Palm Harbor, FL
Created “Driving For Donors” which aims to increase the number of people on the national
marrow donor list.


Kaylee Marie Radzyminski, 17, from Cleveland, TN
Started “Tunes 4 the Troops” which sends donated used and new CDs and DVDs to
military troops serving in combat zones, to bring a little stress relief.


Bilaal Rajan, 12, from Richmond Hill, ON
Founded “Hands for Help” to heightenn awareness of youth issues and raise
funds for children in need.


Jenny Silver, 12, from Cherry Hill, NJ
Developed and runs an organization that raisemoney to provide teddy bears to children in
need during the holidays.


Katie Stagliano, 10, from Summerville, SC
Created “Launch Katie’s Dream” to help make sure no child goes hungry.


Max Wallack, 12, from Natick, MA
Founded PuzzlesToRemember, which collects and distributes puzzles to help
Alzheimer’s and dementia patients.



Source: Build-A-Bear Press Releases

That's great! :]

Thats so cool!!

That's cool. One time i met a huggable hero in babv.

Woo!! Conngrats!!

woww this are pawsome people congrats!!!

That's awesome!

Congratz to them all

Oooh! Those sound like great people!
One of them lives in my state and I've been to the city she lives in lol

Awesomee!! :DDDDD

I bet other kids (contestants) who were not choosen would do great jobs also. I admire their activities that they change the world better.

Congrats people who were chosen as Huggable Hero and also congrats people who are making the world better.

Wow that is great! They seem really helpful
Congrats to all of them.

OMG Christine Crowe i know her ( L ) shes one of my good friends we went to school together last year but i moved to a school like 20 mins away

Cubgratz! It's great to see how many kids care about the world

wow! they are really nice people...i wish our world was filled with kids like them! congrats for your sensibility to help others...that is sooo sweet....BLESS YOU KIDS!