Ashlees Story: When a house fire ravaged her family’s home at age six, Ashlee Smith lost everything. Two years later, as her
firefighter dad battled a major blaze, Ashlee thought of the children. “I want to help kids,” she told her mom, “and the most
important thing to kids is their toys.” Since then, Ashlee has started her own non-profit organization called, Ashlees Toy
Closet, created a website (www.ashleestoycloset.org) and collected and handed out 165,000 toys and books to youngsters whose homes
have been damaged or destroyed by fires, floods and other natural or man-made disasters in the U.S. and around the world. She works
tirelessly conducting toy drives, recruiting volunteers, soliciting donations, promoting her efforts and coming up with new ways to
help put smiles on kids faces after disaster strikes. The more children help, the better the world will be. Every person can make
a difference. Ashlee is a 2010 Huggable Hero.
What: Ashlee can tell her story and help inspire kids in your area to accomplish their own amazing feats. She also can talk about
how your hometown youth can be recognized for their good deeds.
Huggable Heroes: The eighth annual search for Huggable Heroes (young people, ages 8-18 who are making a difference in their
communities and around the world) is on! Anyone — parents, teachers, friends, kids themselves — can nominate a candidate now
through Feb. 28. Ten winners will receive $10,000 ($7,500 educational scholarship and $2,500 charity donation), plus a trip to St.
Louis to be recognized. They also will be featured in the Build-A-Bear Workshop 2012 Huggable Heroes calendar. Nomination forms
are available at your local Build-A-Bear Workshop store or online at http://www.lovehugssmiles.com/HuggableHeroes.aspx
