Toys"R"Us® Cheers On Athletes From Across The Globe Participating In The Special Olympics 2015 Summer World Games

WAYNE, N.J., July 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- With the Special Olympics 2015 Summer World Games underway, Toys"R"Us^® employees throughout the greater Los Angeles, CA area are proudly showing their support by volunteering at the 10-day event. Company volunteers are on hand to encourage and cheer on the littlest athletes, as they reach personal victories in a variety of sporting activities. Toys"R"Us has a longstanding commitment to Special Olympics, and as a Games Level sponsor of the 2015 World Games, is able to help the organization's efforts to bring the benefit of sports to children and adults of all abilities. Alternating every two years, the Summer and Winter World Games are the flagship events of the Special Olympics movement. This year marks the first time in 16 years that the Summer World Games have been held in the U.S.

Click to Tweet: @ToysRUs volunteers cheer on @SpecialOlympics Young Athletes to victory at @LA2015 World Games #MyFirstSportsMoment

Earlier this year, the company launched the #MyFirstSportsMoment initiative designed to introduce the youngest aspiring athletes to the world of sports by learning to hit balls, run bases, take jump shots and more. Toys"R"Us has helped provide more than $4 million to the organization in 2015 alone through a combination of its in-store and online fundraising campaign and grants from the Toys"R"Us Children's Fund. In addition to supporting the Summer World Games, these funds will be used to help expand Special Olympics' Young Athletes™ program across the globe, which supports 2½ to 7 year olds in building critical physical, cognitive and motor development skills through the power of play.

"At Toys"R"Us, we fully recognize the transformative power of sports and are honored to help bring that to children on such a grand stage," said Kathleen Waugh, Chairman of the Toys"R"Us Children's Fund. "Watching the Young Athletes compete is a joy and we are proud to have dedicated members of the Toys"R"Us family here at the World Games celebrating the littlest athletes as they experience their very first sports moments."

Toys"R"Us volunteers are supporting "MyFirst" experiences, including: Aquatics, Softball, Bocce, Golf, Football, Roller Skating, Bowling, Tennis, Basketball and Gymnastics. Fans looking to cheer on the Young Athletes from home can join in on the conversation using #MyFirstSportsMoment on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

To download hi-resolution images of the Special Olympics 2015 Summer World Games, please visit: http://assignments.gettyimages.com/mm/nicePath/gyipa_public?nav=pr288744588

Charitable Giving at Toys"R"Us

The philanthropic mission of Toys"R"Us, Inc. and the Toys"R"Us Children's Fund is to keep children safe and help them in times of need. The Toys"R"Us Children's Fund contributes millions of dollars annually to various children's organizations, including those providing disaster relief to victims of large-scale crises, as well as those supporting America's military families. The Fund also provides grants to leading special needs organizations, furthering the company's commitment to children of all abilities. In addition to financial and product donations, Toys"R"Us, Inc. hosts in-store and online fundraising campaigns annually that raise millions of dollars for the company's signature philanthropic partners.

About Special Olympics World Games Los Angeles 2015 (LA2015)

With 7,000 athletes and 3,000 coaches representing 177 countries, along with 30,000 volunteers and an anticipated 500,000 spectators, the 2015 Special Olympics World Games - being staged in Los Angeles July 25 - August 2, 2015 - will be the largest sports and humanitarian event anywhere in the world in 2015, and the single biggest event in Los Angeles since the 1984 Olympic Games. The 2015 Special Olympics World Games, with the unparalleled spirit, enthusiasm, teamwork, joy and displays of courage and skill that are hallmarks of all Special Olympics events, will feature 25 Olympic-style sports in venues throughout the Los Angeles region. The Opening Ceremony, to be held July 25, 2015 in the historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, site of the 1932 and 1984 Olympic Games, is expected to attract 80,000 spectators. On April 30, 2014, LA2015 and ESPN announced a global programming deal that will see ESPN bring coverage of World Games to millions of fans around the world. Honorary Chairs of the Games are President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and California Governor Jerry Brown serving as Honorary Hosts. Current Founding Champions and sponsors include The Coca-Cola Company, Mattel, Deloitte, Toyota, Bank of America, Kaiser Permanente, OUE Skyspace Los Angeles, Davis Elen Advertising, Microsoft, Toys"R"Us, Google, UPS, AMC Theaters, La Opinion, Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board, WWE, AEG, David Geffen, Kate Capshaw and Steven Spielberg, The Walt Disney Company, Panda Express, and Knights of Columbus. LA2015, the Games Organizing Committee, is a recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. For more information on the 2015 Special Olympics World Games, including volunteer and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.LA2015.org and on social with #ReachUpLA on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Special Olympics Young Athletes

Young Athletes is an inclusive sport and play program for children with and without intellectual disabilities that focuses on the fun activities that are important to mental and physical growth. Children ages 2 to 7 enjoy games and activities that develop motor, social and cognitive skills, while providing an early introduction to sports and to the world of Special Olympics.

About Special Olympics

Special Olympics is a global movement that unleashes the human spirit through the transformative power and joy of sports, every day around the world. We empower people with intellectual disabilities to become accepted and valued members of their communities, which leads to a more respectful and inclusive society for all. Using sports as the catalyst and programming around health and education, Special Olympics is fighting inactivity, injustice and intolerance. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the Special Olympics movement has grown to more than 4.4 million athletes in 170 countries. With the support of more than 1.3 million coaches and volunteers, Special Olympics delivers 32 Olympic-type sports and more than 81,000 games and competitions throughout the year. Visit Special Olympics at www.specialolympics.org. Engage with us on: Twitter  @specialolympics; fb.com/specialolympics; youtube.com/specialolympicshq, instagram.com/specialolympics and specialolympicsblog.wordpress.com.

SOURCE Toys"R"Us, Inc.

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