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Goodwill Industries and Learning Curve Care, Share and Prepare for the Future

Partnership fosters positive social behaviors in kids through play and giving

February 15, 2008

Rockville, MD – Goodwill Industries International and Learning Curve Brands have joined forces for the launch of the Caring Corners™ Mrs. Goodbee™ Interactive Dollhouse. The unique partnership provides opportunities to engage children in real world acts of empathy and sharing as an extension of the play experience that’s built into this innovative toy.  The first of its kind, the Mrs. Goodbee dollhouse offers preschoolers an interactive play experience, an online experience, and a real world experience that plants the seeds of caring and sharing. As part of the real world experience, children are encouraged to fill Mrs. Goodbee’s “Carton of Caring” (the box that the dollhouse comes in) with the gently-used clothing and toys they no longer need and donate them to Goodwill.

“Donating the things you no longer need is a form of charity in which anyone, regardless of their age, can participate,” says George W. Kessinger, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. “Together, parents and their children can explore how their donations go toward job training programs that put people to work and build stronger communities.”

After making their donations, children will receive special recognition from Goodwill Industries.

“What distinguishes the Caring Corners Mrs. Goodbee Dollhouse is that we extend the dollhouse’s social responsibility messages into real life through our exclusive partnership with Goodwill Industries,” says Jerry Perez, General Manager of Learning Curve West. “Toymakers have long created positive play experiences, but Mrs. Goodbee takes caring and sharing well beyond the play scenario.”

The donations of clothing and toys will be sold in Goodwill stores, and the proceeds will help fund Goodwill’s job training programs in the community. "Children can feel good because their donations will help people earn a paycheck and support themselves and their families,” says Kessinger. “Most important, the experience of giving lets preschoolers learn firsthand the satisfaction of helping others in their community.”

According to research, today’s parents are more dedicated than ever to building social, emotional and moral intelligence in their children. The Caring Corners Mrs. Goodbee Interactive Dollhouse does this in a way that traditional toys cannot match.

“Valuable lessons that encourage children to make compassionate choices are at the top of the list,” says Perez. “With Mrs. Goodbee, these life skills endure even after the toy is put away.”

About Learning Curve Brands, Inc.
Learning Curve Brands, Inc. (www.learningcurve.com) is a wholly owned subsidiary of RC2 Corporation (NASDAQ: RCRC, www.rc2.com) and is a leading designer, producer and marketer of innovative, high-quality toys, collectibles, and infant products that are targeted to consumers of all ages. Learning Curve Brands, Inc. markets its infant, toddler and preschool products under its Learning Curve® family of brands which includes The First Years® by Learning Curve and Lamaze brands as well as popular and classic licensed properties such as Thomas & Friends, Bob the Builder, Winnie the Pooh, John Deere, Nickelodeon and Sesame Street. The Company’s youth and adult products are marketed under the Johnny Lightning® (www.johnnylightning.com) and Ertl®, (www.ertl.com) brands. Learning Curve Brands, Inc. reaches its target consumers through multiple channels of distribution supporting more than 25,000 retail outlets throughout North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia Pacific.

For free broadcast-quality video, visit www.thenewsmarket.com/Goodwill.