Albert Pujols "Pinch Hits" To Support 20th Anniversary Of The Toys"R"Us Toy Guide For Differently-Abled Kids®

WAYNE, N.J., Aug. 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Toys"R"Us^® today announced the release of its 20^th Anniversary edition of the Toys"R"Us Toy Guide for Differently-Abled Kids^®, an easy-to-use toy selection resource for those who know, love and shop for children with special needs. Now in its second decade of annual publication, the complimentary shopping guide is a go-to for families, friends and caregivers involved in the special needs community, and is available in Toys"R"Us^® and Babies"R"Us^® stores nationwide, as well as online at Toysrus.com/DifferentlyAbled in both English and Spanish. This year, Toys"R"Us is teaming up with baseball World Champion, proud father and special needs advocate, Albert Pujols, who appears on the cover alongside Cameron Withers, a 5-year-old boy from Southern California.

While Pujols is known for his passion on the diamond, his dedication to the special needs community is even greater. As a parent to a daughter with Down syndrome, Pujols serves as a vocal advocate for children with special needs through the Pujols Family Foundation. Since 2005, the Pujols Family Foundation has worked diligently to provide children and families living with Down syndrome with the tools they need to thrive. As part of the launch of this year's Guide, Pujols will bring that same devotion to his partnership with Toys"R"Us in helping to reach its customers nationwide and raise awareness of this one-of-a-kind resource.

"As a proud dad to my beautiful daughter, Bella, who lives with Down syndrome, I understand how important it is to have resources like the Toys"R"Us Toy Guide for Differently-Abled Kids to help in making informed choices to support a child's development. And, as a professional athlete, I truly value the importance of play and recognize the impact it has in the lives of children who face everyday challenges – for these kids, playtime is not just about fun, it's an opportunity to explore their strengths and experience success in reaching each new milestone," said nine-time All-Star baseball player, Albert Pujols. "I have a tremendous amount of passion for this cause, and I'm excited to partner with Toys"R"Us to make it easier for gift-givers to find toys for the special needs children in their lives that will inspire their imagination, encourage inclusive play and help them develop new skills."

Trusted Toy Recommendations Tailored to Children's Individual Abilities

Serving as a trusted resource for family, friends and caregivers of children with special needs, the Guide is packed with everyday playthings selected for their unique ability to help kids build critical skills, such as creativity, fine and gross motor and self-esteem, during playtime. Each of the toys featured in the 63-page buying guide has been vetted in partnership with the National Lekotek Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to making play accessible for children of all abilities.

To equip parents with targeted recommendations as they set out in selecting a toy for their child's specific set of abilities, each toy in the Guide is paired with skill-building icons, which help users easily identify the playthings that are most suitable for the child they're shopping for. The following are examples of toys featured in the 2014 Guide, highlighted by the skill they promote:

• Auditory: Baby Einstein Octoplush from Kids II^®
• Creativity: Mega Bloks Build 'n Learn Table from MEGA^® Brands
• Fine Motor: Hot Wheels KidPicks Super 6-in-1 Track Set from Mattel®
• Gross Motor: Monster Dirt Diggers from Little Tikes®
• Language: Doctor Role Play Set from Melissa & Doug^®
• Self Esteem: Classic Doodler with 2 Stampers from Fisher-Price^®
• Social Skills: Elefun & Friends Chasin' Cheeky from Hasbro^®
• Tactile: Cyclone from Radio Flyer^®
• Thinking: Connect & Create Geometric Set from Imaginarium^™
• Visual: Marker Maker from Crayola^®

"For two decades, the Toys"R"Us Toy Guide for Differently-Abled Kids has been a valuable resource for parents looking to find toys that help build specific skills for their children," said Kathleen Waugh, Chairman, Toys"R"Us Children's Fund. "We're honored to partner with Albert Pujols in our goal to bring joy to children of all abilities. Toys"R"Us has a long-standing commitment to ensuring tools like the Guide are accessible and available for parents and children everywhere."

Through the Toys"R"Us Children's Fund, Toys"R"Us, Inc. has long supported the special needs community via organizations such as: American Society for Deaf Children, Autism Speaks, the Pujols Family Foundation, HollyRod Foundation, Muscular Dystrophy Association, National Down Syndrome Society, National Lekotek Center, National Organization of Parents of Blind Children, National Center for Learning Disabilities, Special Olympics, Spina Bifida Association and United Cerebral Palsy. For more information, please visit www.toysrusinc.com/charitable-giving/

Shopping the Guide, In-Store, Online and On-the-Go

Those who prefer to browse online can take advantage of the shop-by-skill option at Toysrus.com/DifferentlyAbled. Customers can narrow their toy selection by focusing on a specific skill to refine their search. Shoppers can also view the Guide via their smartphone by scanning the QR code featured on dedicated signage located at their Toys"R"Us store's Customer Service Desk. Those searching for mobile apps can also download theofficial Toys"R"Us App Guide for Differently-Abled Kids. Using the same skills criteria featured within the traditional Guide, the App Guide provides a convenient, on-the-go resource for viewing, researching and comparing mobile apps designed to build individual development skills for children of all ages. All apps featured within this helpful resource can be found in the App Store for iOS or the Google Play Store for Android.

In addition to finding toy recommendations, parents can peruse the Guide's "Top Ten Tips for Buying Toys," prepared by the National Lekotek Center, as well as "Safe Play Tips for Children with Special Needs," which were created based on research collected from leading safety and special needs organizations, to help avoid playtime injuries.

Join the Conversation Using #ToysForAll

Throughout the year, Toys"R"Us will continue to leverage its social media channels, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest, to share toy-buying tips and recommendations found in the Guide, as well as exclusive behind-the-scenes content from the cover shoot with Albert Pujols. The company is encouraging fans and followers to join the conversation and support the power of play in the lives of all children by using hashtag #ToysForAll. For more information about the Toys"R"Us Toy Guide for Differently-Abled Kids, visit Toysrus.com/DifferentlyAbled.

TO DOWNLOAD BEHIND-THE-SCENES FOOTAGE OF THE 2014 GUIDE COVER SHOOT, CLICK HERE.

FOR HIGH-RES PHOTOS, INCLUDING THE COVER IMAGE FEATURING ALBERT PUJOLS, CLICK HERE.

About Toys"R"Us, Inc.

Toys"R"Us, Inc. is the world's leading dedicated toy and baby products retailer, offering a differentiated shopping experience through its family of brands. Merchandise is sold in 878 Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us stores in the United States and Puerto Rico, and in more than 705 international stores and over 190 licensed stores in 35 countries and jurisdictions. In addition, it exclusively operates the legendary FAO Schwarz brand and sells extraordinary toys in the brand's flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York City. With its strong portfolio of e-commerce sites including Toysrus.com, Babiesrus.com, eToys.com and FAO.com, it provides shoppers with a broad online selection of distinctive toy and baby products. Headquartered in Wayne, NJ, Toys"R"Us, Inc. employs approximately 70,000 associates annually worldwide. The company is committed to serving its communities as a caring and reputable neighbor through programs dedicated to keeping kids safe and helping them in times of need. Additional information about Toys"R"Us, Inc. can be found on Toysrusinc.com. Follow Toys"R"Us, Babies"R"Us and FAO Schwarz on Facebook at Facebook.com/Toysrus, Facebook.com/Babiesrus and Facebook.com/FAO and on Twitter at Twitter.com/Toysrus and Twitter.com/Babiesrus.

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.

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SOURCE Toys"R"Us, Inc.