NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--HBC today introduced its limited-edition Charity Bear, named Hudson. HBC’s retail banners in the U.S., including, Lord & Taylor, Saks Fifth Avenue, Saks OFF 5TH and Gilt, each have a uniquely designed Hudson Charity Bear. The bears retail for $25 each and are available for purchase in-store and online this holiday season for a limited time. Through the HBC Foundation’s HEADFIRST program, 100 percent of the net proceeds will be donated to Bring Change to Mind (“BC2M”), a nonprofit organization dedicated to encouraging dialogue about mental health, and to raising awareness, understanding, and empathy.
The HBC Foundation’s HEADFIRST Program is dedicated to positively impacting the mental health landscape through combatting stigma, investing in research and improving mental health programs. Glenn Close, Co-Founder, BC2M, Award-Winning Actress & Activist, is this year’s Ambassador of the Hudson Charity Bears.
“We are delighted to introduce four new Charity Bears that will help to further the work that the HBC Foundation is doing to support mental health issues among teens and young adults,” said Andrew Blecher, Chief Communications Officer, HBC. “We are excited to begin initiatives that will make an impact in supporting mental health programs.”
Glenn Close commented, “The holidays can be a particularly challenging time for those struggling with mental illness. Bring Change to Mind is thrilled to partner with the HBC Foundation, to encourage and continue open conversation about mental health. Bravo HBC!”
The HBC Charity Bears are now available in-store at Lord & Taylor, Saks Fifth Avenue and Saks OFF 5TH, and online at:
*HBC Charity Bears are available while supplies last.
ABOUT HBC FOUNDATION
Established in Canada in 2005 and in
the U.S. in 2017, the HBC Foundation is the North American charitable
arm of Hudson’s Bay Company, one of the fastest-growing retailers in the
world. The foundation is a Canadian registered charity and a 501(c)(3)
non-profit organization in the U.S. dedicated to improving lives by
enhancing physical and mental health through education, access,
research, and empowerment. By channeling the collective power of HBC’s
banners North America, including Hudson’s Bay, Lord & Taylor, Saks Fifth
Avenue, Saks OFF 5TH and Gilt.com,
the foundation helps to transform the mental health landscape.
ABOUT HUDSON’S BAY COMPANY
Hudson’s Bay Company is one of
the fastest-growing department store retailers in the world, based on
its successful formula of driving the performance of high quality stores
and their all-channel offerings, unlocking the value of real estate
holdings and growing through acquisitions. Founded in 1670, HBC is the
oldest company in North America. HBC’s portfolio today includes ten
banners, in formats ranging from luxury to better department stores to
off price fashion shopping destinations, with more than 470 stores and
66,000 employees around the world.
In North America, HBC’s leading banners include Hudson’s Bay, Lord & Taylor, Saks Fifth Avenue, Gilt, and Saks OFF 5TH. In Europe, its banners include GALERIA Kaufhof, the largest department store group in Germany, Belgium’s only department store group Galeria INNO, as well as Sportarena.
HBC has significant investments in real estate joint ventures. It has partnered with Simon Property Group Inc. in the HBS Global Properties Joint Venture, which owns properties in the United States and Germany. In Canada, it has partnered with RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust in the RioCan-HBC Joint Venture.
About Bring Change to Mind
In 2010, Glenn Close co-founded
Bring Change to Mind (BC2M), a nonprofit organization built to start the
conversation about mental health, and to raise awareness, understanding,
and empathy. The idea for the organization resulted from Ms. Close’s
first-hand observation of the battles with mental illness within her own
family. Ms. Close’s sister, Jessie, successfully lives with bipolar
disorder, and Jessie’s son, Calen, lives with schizoaffective disorder,
and all three are actively involved in spreading the organization’s
mission. BC2M develops influential public service announcements (PSAs);
pilots evidence-based, peer-to-peer programs at the undergraduate and
high school levels engaging students to eradicate stigma; and has
created a social movement around change by providing people with
platforms to share, connect, and learn. Because science is essential to
achieving this mission, BC2M’s work is grounded in the latest research,
evaluated for effectiveness, and shared with confidence. An integral
component of this is BC2M’s Scientific Advisory Council, which is
comprised of an acclaimed team of experts in the fields of stigma and
discrimination associated with mental illness. To learn more please
visit: www.bringchangetomind.org