Toys"R"Us® Donates $1 Million to the Hamilton Education Program

WAYNE, N.J., Oct. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its ongoing commitment to support children and families – which includes serving as champions of play for kids of all ages – today the Toys"R"Us® Children's Fund, a public charity affiliated with Toys"R"Us, Inc., announced it has donated $1 million to the Hamilton Education Program (EduHam). The donation provides thousands of high school students with a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience the hit musical HAMILTON through an innovative education program that focuses on history and the performing arts.

Over the course of several weeks, nearly 25,000 Title 1 high school students in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York, will learn the past is far from boring. During the program, kids will see history through a new lens by studying Alexander Hamilton and nation's Founding Fathers, and by creating their own performance, such as an original song, spoken word or rap piece. Toys"R"Us worked closely with the EduHam team – co-founded by Lin-Manuel Miranda and the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History – to ensure its donation would give each student a show-stopping final curtain call in their HAMILTON journey: the opportunity to experience the musical first-hand, in their hometown.

"At Toys"R"Us, kids are our number one priority – whether they're just a few weeks old, or in this case, walking the halls of high school," said Dave Brandon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Toys"R"Us, Inc. "We're honored to support this five-year program and the thousands of students and teachers involved because we believe in the power that HAMILTON and EduHam has to help students flourish – giving them a much-needed artistic and educational outlet, while making history fun."

"I am grateful for Toys"R"Us and its very generous gift to allow thousands of students across the U.S. the opportunity to study the Founding Fathers of our country through the Hamilton Education Program," said HAMILTON creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda. "Without support like this, we would not be able to share this impactful program with these students. #Eduham continues to be one of my greatest joys in creating HAMILTON."

To read more about the program, please visit https://www.toysrusinc.com/blog/toysrus-eduham-musical-magic.

HAMILTON is the story of America's Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant from the West Indies who became George Washington's right-hand man during the Revolutionary War and was the new nation's first Treasury Secretary.  Featuring a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap, R&B, and Broadway, HAMILTON is the story of America then, as told by America now. 

Charitable Giving at Toys"R"Us
Toys"R"Us, Inc. is a global partner in philanthropic programs that advocate for the safety and happiness of all children. The company places a strong focus on partners and programs that provide basic necessities and opportunities for children in-need. Together with its charitable arm, the Toys"R"Us Children's Fund, Toys"R"Us has contributed more than $230 million to changing the lives of children around the globe.   

ABOUT THE GILDER LEHRMAN INSTITUTE OF AMERICAN HISTORY
Founded in 1994 by philanthropists Richard Gilder and Lewis E. Lehrman, the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History is the leading American history nonprofit organization dedicated to K–12 education. With a focus on primary sources, the Gilder Lehrman Institute illuminates the stories, people and moments that inspire students of all ages and backgrounds to learn and understand more about history. Through a diverse portfolio of education programs, including the acclaimed Hamilton Education Program (#eduham), the Gilder Lehrman Institute provides opportunities for nearly two million students, 30,000 teachers and 14,000 schools worldwide.

For information on The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, visit www.gilderlehrman.org,www.Facebook.com/gilderlehrman,https://www.instagram.com/gilderlehrman and https://twitter.com/Gilder_Lehrman.

SOURCE Toys"R"Us, Inc.

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