TOYS“R”US, INC. AFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO SAFETY WITH RETURN OF POPULAR ‘GREAT TRADE-IN’ EVENT, EXPANDS IN-STORE AND ONLINE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES FOR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS
Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund Donates $25,000 to Nonprofit Foundation Keeping Babies Safe to Support Ongoing Efforts Related to Safe Sleep Practices
WAYNE, NJ (August 22, 2012) – As part of its ongoing commitment to the safety of the children and families it serves, Toys“R”Us, Inc. today announced the return of its popular “Great Trade-In” event, as well as new in-store and online resources for parents and caregivers that provide them with information to help keep their children safe. In addition, the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund, a public charity affiliated with the company, has made a $25,000 donation to Keeping Babies Safe, a nonprofit foundation that provides education, assistance and leadership in keeping babies safe from preventable injuries associated with unsafe cribs and sleep environments.
“As a company, children’s safety is our number one priority, and that is evident through products available in our stores that help parents keep their kids safe, and through our dedicated Safety website, which has become a valuable informational resource for parents and caregivers,” said Jerry Storch, Chairman and CEO, Toys“R”Us, Inc. “In addition to the safety tips and product recall information currently available, we continually look for ways to add new content to the site, and we’re proud to work with experts in various fields to provide relevant, timely information on current issues of importance.”
The “Great Trade-In” Event and Baby Safety Day in Stores Nationwide
This month, Toys“R”Us, Inc. marks the third anniversary of its inaugural “Great Trade-In” event. Since its inception in 2009, this program has resulted in more than 750,000 used and potentially unsafe baby products being returned to stores across the country, in exchange for savings on a new item that meets today’s more stringent safety standards. The “Great Trade-In” event will take place in Babies“R”Us® and Toys“R”Us® stores nationwide from Friday, August 24 through Sunday, September 16. For additional information, please visit Babiesrus.com/trade-in.
On Saturday, September 8 from noon to 3 p.m., Babies“R”Us stores nationwide will host a Baby Safety Day event, during which parents and caregivers are invited to visit the store for information on car seat, sleep and home safety. A variety of car seats designed to accommodate babies to big kids at each phase of their development will be available so attendees can learn the features and benefits of each, as well as identify the type of seat that best suits their child’s current and future needs. In addition, Babies“R”Us has partnered with Safe Kids Worldwide, an organization whose mission is to prevent unintended injuries to children, to produce a brochure with tips for keeping babies safe both at home and on-the-go that will also be available for attendees.
Company Introduces New Feature on Dedicated Safety Website
Toys“R”Us has also introduced a new informational page on its dedicated Safety website, Toysrus.com/Safety. Entitled “Safety Experts Say,” the page features a blog on which experts from leading Safety organizations such as Injury Free Coalition for Kids, First Candle, Safe Kids Worldwide and Keeping Babies Safe, among others, will provide commentary on issues of importance to them. Currently focused on sleep safety, the blog will be updated on a regular basis with relevant information to help parents keep their kids out of harm’s way. Parents can also visit the site for additional tips on keeping their children safe, information on the company’s safety standards, to check for product recalls and to sign up to receive e-mail notifications for product recalls, which more than 250,000 customers have done since the site’s inception. In addition, customers who are members of the company’s free loyalty program, Rewards“R”Us, or who have registered with Babies“R”Us, are automatically notified if a product they purchased has been recalled.
Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund Supports Keeping Babies Safe
To support Keeping Babies Safe in its efforts to educate parents and caregivers about how to create and maintain a safe sleep environment for their baby, the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund, a public charity affiliated with Toys“R”Us, Inc., has made a $25,000 donation to the organization. In addition to these efforts, through its Project Safe Crib program, Keeping Babies Safe helps parents from economically challenged environments obtain safe cribs providing them to Health and Human Services organizations that have demonstrated a thorough training in safe crib practices. Since 2007, Project Safe Crib has donated more than 7,000 safe cribs nationwide.
For additional information about the company’s commitment to the safety of the children and families it serves, please visit Toysrus.com/Safety.
About Toys“R”Us, Inc.
Toys“R”Us, Inc. is the world’s leading dedicated toy and juvenile products retailer, offering a differentiated shopping experience through its family of brands. Merchandise is sold in 873 Toys“R”Us and Babies“R”Us stores in the United States and Puerto Rico, and in more than 625 international stores and over 145 licensed stores in 35 countries and jurisdictions. In addition, it exclusively operates the legendary FAO Schwarz brand and sells extraordinary toys in the brand’s flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York City. With its strong portfolio of e-commerce sites including Toysrus.com, Babiesrus.com, eToys.com and FAO.com, it provides shoppers with a broad online selection of distinctive toy and baby products. Headquartered in Wayne, NJ, Toys“R”Us, Inc. employs approximately 70,000 associates annually worldwide. The company is committed to serving its communities as a caring and reputable neighbor through programs dedicated to keeping kids safe and helping them in times of need. Additional information about Toys“R”Us, Inc. can be found on Toysrusinc.com. Follow Toys“R”Us, Babies“R”Us and FAO Schwarz on Facebook at Facebook.com/Toysrus, Facebook.com/Babiesrus and Facebook.com/FAO and on Twitter at Twitter.com/Toysrus and Twitter.com/Babiesrus.
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Media Contacts:
Toys“R”Us, Inc.
Jennifer Albano
(973) 617-5632
Jennifer.Albano@toysrus.com
Katie Reczek
(973) 617-4381
Katie.Reczek@toysrus.com