Way to go Toys R Us!

Toys"R"Us, Inc. Expands its Support of Autism Speaks Babies"R"Us Stores Join Toys"R"Us in Sponsoring National Walk Program and In-Store Fundraising Campaign
WAYNE, NJ (February 5, 2009) - Toys"R"Us, Inc. and the Toys"R"Us Children's Fund today announced they have increased their support of Autism Speaks, an organization dedicated to funding global biomedical research for autism and raising public awareness about the disorder and its effects on individuals, families and society. This year, the company's more than 260 Babies"R"Us locations nationwide will join Toys"R"Us stores in a nine-week in-store fundraising campaign to coincide with Autism Awareness Month in April. In 2008, Toys"R"Us stores raised $1.5 million to support crucial autism research and advocacy.For the third consecutive year, Toys"R"Us, Inc. employees nationwide will participate in the Autism Speaks Walk Now for Autism program, a series of more than 75 fundraising walk events held in communities across the country. To kick off the 2009 partnership, including national sponsorship of the walk program, the Toys"R"Us Children's Fund awarded Autism Speaks a $400,000 grant. Since the partnership began in 2007, the Toys"R"Us Children's Fund, Toys"R"Us, Inc. and customer donations have combined to provide Autism Speaks with more than $3.7 million."As a company dedicated to children and families, we are proud to have both our Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us stores support Autism Speaks this year," said Jerry Storch, Chairman and CEO, Toys"R"Us, Inc. "With so many children affected by autism spectrum disorders and still very little known about any causes or cures, we are hopeful our fundraising and awareness campaign can contribute to solving the autism puzzle.""Our partnership with Toys"R"Us, Inc. continues to help raise both awareness for autism spectrum disorders and money for important research and advocacy, and we are thrilled to have Babies"R"Us stores participating in the campaign this year," said Mark Roithmayr, President of Autism Speaks. "Experts advocate screening for autism twice by the age of two, so we are grateful for the opportunity to reach parents of babies and toddlers and educate them on this new research. Early detection and intervention are key to a better quality of life for children with autism and their families."Autism Speaks Walk Now for Autism Events Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us employees nationwide will participate in more than 75 fundraising walk events in cities coast-to-coast by forming walk teams in their local communities as part of the 2009 national sponsorship of this program. Beginning this month and continuing through November, this series of signature fundraising and awareness events is expected to attract thousands of participants and provide families, friends and professional caregivers an opportunity to contribute to, and show support for, the fight against autism. Last year, Autism Speaks raised more than $29.3 million through its Walk Now for Autism events. The complete schedule of Autism Speaks Walk Now for Autism events can be found at www.walknowforautism.org.