LOS ANGELES--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--March 17, 1999-- Fans of the hottest toy in 1998 now have a chance to own the very first Furby of the 1999 spring release.
The Starlight Children's Foundation Wednesday announced that it is teaming up with Tiger Electronics, a division of Hasbro (NYSE:HAS - news) and Yahoo! Inc. (Nasdaq:YHOO - news), a leading global Internet media company, to offer an online auction of special limited-edition Furbys.
The Yahoo!® Charity Auction is one of several planned auctions that will take place during the coming months on Yahoo! Auctions (http://auctions.yahoo.com), a person-to-person interactive commerce adventure, in conjunction with the ``Journey of Hope'' (http://journeyofhope.com), a year-long effort championed by the ViewSonic Corp. (Walnut, Calif.), to raise funds and awareness for Starlight.
Through March 23, people can bid on the first spring edition Furby, as well as four additional Furbys -- versions 45, 47, 48 and 49. A total of 250,000 Furbys were produced for the spring launch.
``We are thrilled to provide the first spring edition purple Furby to help benefit such a tremendous cause. Since the original launch of Furby last October, our furry friend has warmed the hearts of millions of children. Reaching out to kids is what Furby is all about,'' said Marc Rosenberg, Tiger's vice president, corporate communications.
This is not the first time that Tiger, Yahoo! Auctions and Starlight have collaborated. This past holiday season, Starlight was one of the beneficiaries of a month-long charity auction on Yahoo! Auctions during which 1,000 Furbys were auctioned for children's charities.
``The auction raised more than $25,000 for the Starlight Children's Foundation, and we benefited greatly by the enormous exposure afforded us by Yahoo! Auctions,'' said Laura Thrall, director of fund development for Starlight. ``This unique collaboration is a wonderful example of how corporations like Tiger Electronics and ViewSonic can reach out to the communities they serve through Yahoo! Auctions in a way that is fun, innovative and far-reaching.''
``Furby enthusiasts are very active within our Yahoo! Auctions community,'' said Rich Godwin, brand manager for Yahoo! Auctions. ``We are thrilled to be able to work with Tiger again to give Furby fans a rare opportunity to own the first spring edition and at the same time help support the good works and efforts of the Starlight Children's Foundation.''
The Yahoo! Charity Auctions program is part of Yahoo! Auctions, which is a free online person-to-person marketplace offering convenient access to more than 3,000 different categories such as Toys & Games, Arts & Entertainment, Antiques & Collectibles, Computers & Software, Electronics and Cameras.
The Yahoo! Charity Auctions program is a service dedicated to the ongoing support of non-profit organizations. All proceeds from the Yahoo! Charity Auction program are donated directly to the celebrity's or participant's specified charity. Non-profit organizations interested in running a Yahoo! Charity Auction should contact charityauctions@yahoo.com to learn more.
About Tiger Electronics
Tiger Electronics Ltd. is a division of Hasbro Inc. Tiger is the worldwide leader in electronic entertainment for the whole family. Tiger makes great toys like Brain Warp, Giga Pets, Lazer Tag and dozens more.
About ViewSonic Corp.'s Journey of Hope
California-based ViewSonic Corp. is a world leader in display technology. In 1999, ViewSonic's hot air balloon, in the shape of a giant monitor, will travel throughout the United States and Canada on the inaugural Journey of Hope, a national effort championed by ViewSonic to raise awareness and support for the Starlight Children's Foundation.
With the help of other Journey of Hope corporate sponsors, including Yahoo! Inc., PC Magazine, Computer Shopper and Forbes, the Journey of Hope is expected to raise more than $500,000 for Starlight.
About Starlight Childen's Foundation
Starlight Children's Foundation is an international charity that brightens the lives of seriously ill children and their families through innovative programs for the hospitalized child, such as mobile entertainment units called Starlight Fun Centers, specially designed recreation rooms called Starlight Rooms, and outpatient programs, including wish-granting experiences and community services. Starlight Children's Foundation reaches 57,000 children every month around the world with these programs.
Yahoo! and the Yahoo! Logo are registered trademarks of Yahoo! Inc. All other names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
Starlight Children's Foundation, Los Angeles
Phyllis Folb, 310/207-5558 ext. 106
Karri Holley-Kim, 310/207-5558 ext. 114
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Article is quoted from Yahoo News and is not edited in any way.
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