Party City Celebrates Halloween With a Nearly Half-A-Million Dollar Donation to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America

ROCKAWAY, N.J., Oct. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- As Halloween sets the scene for costumed trick-or-treaters, Party City wants children from every walk of life to experience the spirit of the season, donating nearly half-a-million dollars to the Boys & Girls Club of America at their annual Halloween Bash Friday, Oct. 22, 2010. Actor and Extra! host, Mario Lopez, a former Boys & Girls Club member, made the check presentation on behalf of Party City.

As the economy continues to challenge most families, Party City understands children are especially affected by their parents' financial struggles. The Boys & Girls Clubs of America is an organization helping to improve the lives of 4.5 million young people nationwide. Through a year-long customer donation drive, Party City collected more than $450,000 to support the organization.

"Children are at the heart of Halloween, and Party City is committed to helping kids celebrate this spooktacular holiday in a magical way," says Lisa Laube, president of Party City. "By partnering with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and raising nearly a half-a-million dollars, Party City helps ensure that the national organization continues its worthwhile mission in communities nationwide."

Party City culminated its year-long donation drive with an annual Halloween Boys & Girls Club Fair. This year, the Halloween Fair was held on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2010 at the Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, Calif. The event entertained more than 500 kids from San Francisco Boys & Girls Clubs, who dressed in donated Party City Halloween costumes and were treated to a number of Halloween activities, including trick-or-treating, riding roller coasters and having their pictures taken with characters like Dora the Explorer, Spiderman and SpongeBob SquarePants.

Party City customers can continue to donate to Boys & Girls Club of America through Oct. 31, 2010. For more information and store locations visit PartyCity.com.

About Party City

Party City Corporation is America's largest specialty party goods chain and the country's premier Halloween specialty retailer. Party City operates more than 600 company-owned and franchise stores throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. As part of the Amscan Holdings, Inc., (AHI), group of companies, Party City is among the more than 900 specialty party stores that AHI either owns, operates or franchises. To learn more about Party City, call 1-800-477-4841 or visit the company's website at partycity.com.

About Boys & Girls Club of America

Boys & Girls Club of America (www.bgca.org) comprises a national network of more than 4,300 neighborhood-based facilities annually serving some 4.5 million young people, in all 50 states and on U.S. military bases worldwide. Known as "The Positive Place for Kids," the Clubs provide guidance-oriented character development programs on a daily basis for children 6-18 years old, conducted by a full-time professional staff. Key Boys & Girls Club programs emphasize leadership development, education and career exploration, financial literacy, health and life skills, the arts, sports, fitness and recreation, and family outreach. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. For more information visit BGCA.org

SOURCE Party City