Things Remembered, Make-A-Wish Foundation® Offer Gifts That Give Back

Five New Things Remembered Gifts Support the Wish-Granting Organization

Cleveland, Oct. 9, 2009 – Add extra meaning to gifts this season with a gift that gives twice. Things Remembered is marking its 12-year sponsorship of the Make-A-Wish Foundation with five exclusive personalized gifts that benefit the Foundation, including new jewelry and a seasonal teddy bear. For each custom-designed, limited-edition item sold, Things Remembered will donate $2 to support the children’s wish-granting organization.

“Household budgets may be stretched, but consumers still want to support charitable organizations and give really great gifts,” said Amy Myers, vice president of creative services at Things Remembered. “To help our shoppers do that, we’ve added Make-A-Wish® jewelry and a collector’s teddy bear that shows loved ones how much they’re valued while helping grant wishes of deserving children.”

Make-A-Wish Foundation-themed gifts became a tradition at Things Remembered in 1998, one year after Elysia, a seriously ill teen, wished to give her family and friends personalized gifts saying, “Thank you, I love you, and always remember me.” Her wish has grown into an ongoing program that has raised almost $5.7 million and helped grant the wishes of more than 790 children.

“We really value the relationship we’ve created with Things Remembered over the years and are so appreciative of all the people who have made Make-A-Wish gifts part of their holiday tradition,” said David Williams, president and chief executive officer of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America. “Through purchases from the exclusive collection, we’re able to bring hope, strength and joy to so many courageous wish children.”

Among the new engravable Things Remembered Make-A-Wish gifts:

·    Max the Bear – Max, a fluffy white teddy bear, holds a delicate water globe in his paws with a message that reads “Wishes from the Heart.” A story card explains how Max brings and shares wishes with others, offering a fitting gift for adults and a fun way to help children understand and appreciate charitable giving. An engraving plate on the water globe offers room to add a special wish for the recipient.

·    Stunning Jewelry – For the first time, Things Remembered is offering jewelry as part of its Make-A-Wish program. A dazzling heart-shaped swing charm is the focal point of the new Make-A-Wish necklace. A delicate, crystal-encrusted cut-out heart swings over a silver-plated engravable heart charm to share a special wish. A unique Make-A-Wish bracelet features tiny, clustered silver stars in lieu of a traditional chain, along with an engravable crystal star charm. Each piece comes in a special silver keepsake box that can be personalized with a well-wish or season’s greeting for the recipient.

·   Exclusive Ornaments – Things Remembered has expanded its Make-A-Wish collectors ornaments with a new heart and limited-edition angel design. The first limited-edition ornament offered by the retailer, the angel ornament holds a string of charms that reads “faith, hope, love, joy,” along with an engravable heart charm. On a felt hanger, the heart ornament dazzles thanks to a detailed design of faceted glass stones and crystals. Things Remembered also introduces the North Star ornament, which incorporates the hope of the iconic Make-A-Wish star and features beautiful faceted glass stones and crystals. Each ornament in the collection can be engraved with a family name or special holiday reflection.

Things Remembered, based in Highland Heights, Ohio, is the nation’s leading chain of personalized gift stores, with more than 600 stores in 47 states. For more information about Things Remembered or for store locations, call 800-274-7367 or log on to www.thingsremembered.com.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Founded in 1980 when a group of caring volunteers helped a young boy fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer, the Foundation is now the largest wish-granting charity in the world, with 65 chapters in the United States and its territories. With the help of generous donors and nearly 25,000 volunteers, the Make-A-Wish Foundation grants a wish every 40 minutes and has granted more than 174,000 wishes in the U.S. since inception. For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, visit wish.org and discover how you can share the power of a wish®.

For more news, follow Things Remembered on Twitter (@tremembered) and Facebook.

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This Holiday suggestion is part of MomDots Gift Guide. We received a product to assist us in verifying our recommendation.