News Release

• More Releases

This Holiday Season, Goodwill Industries and Caring Corners Team Up to Help Children Learn That It's Better to Give Than to Receive

November 11, 2008

Rockville, MD – Too often the season of giving turns into the season of 'getting' – especially for children. This holiday season, children can begin learning what it feels like to give back to their local community. This first-of-its kind partnership between toy-maker, Learning Curve Brands, Inc.^® and Goodwill Industries^® is called the Carton of Caring^® Donation Program. The program encourages charitable giving during the holidays, an important lesson of sharing and compassion that is never too early to learn.

This lesson of "giving not getting," begins with the Caring Corners^®; Mrs. Goodbee™ Talking Dollhouse from Learning Curve Brands. The dollhouse is actually two unique gifts in one – a gift for the child to keep and a gift for her to give away. The first gift is the dollhouse, which helps children learn social and emotional skills in a fun, interactive way through imaginative play. That second gift – the giving part – comes to life with the Carton of Caring Donation Program. Children are encouraged to fill the Mrs. Goodbee's "Carton of Caring" (the box the dollhouse comes in) with gently-used clothing and toys and donate them to any of the 2,200 Goodwill^® stores nationwide and in Canada.

There is no better time to get children involved in the art of giving back than during the holidays. Donating is a simple caring act that can help expand a child's world from '"me"' to "we." When children donate their Carton of Caring, they will receive a Certificate of Appreciation from Goodwill Industries and earn a special online code that "unlocks" a Caring Corners web game available only through donation.

The donated items from the "Carton of Caring" program will be sold in Goodwill retail stores and the revenues will help fund Goodwill job training programs and support services for people with disabilities, those who lack education or job experience and other job seekers. In 2007, more than one million people benefited from Goodwill's programs.

"Children can feel good because their donations will help people earn a paycheck and support themselves and their families," says Jim Gibbons, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. "Most important, the experience of giving lets preschoolers learn firsthand the satisfaction of helping others in their community."

To find the Goodwill store nearest to you, use our online locator at www.goodwill.org, or call (800) 664-6577.

Note to the Editor: Purchase and donation is necessary to participate in the program and receive Goodwill recognition and online codes. The Caring Corners Mrs. Goodbee Dollhouse can be found at retailers nationwide, including Target^®, Wal-Mart^®, and Toys R' Us.^®

ABOUT LEARNING CURVE BRANDS, INC.
Learning Curve Brands, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of RC2 Corporation and is a leading designer, producer and marketer of innovative, high-quality toys, collectibles, and infant and toddler products. 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® and Ertl® 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.

ABOUT GOODWILL INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL
Goodwill Industries International is a network of 184 community-based, independent member organizations in the United States, Canada, and 14 other countries. Each organization serves people with disabilities, people who lack education or job experience, low-wage workers and other job seekers by providing education and career services, as well as job placement opportunities and post-employment support. To pay for its programs, Goodwill sells donated clothes and other household items in more than 2,200 retail stores, and online at www.shopgoodwill.com. Through its services, the network helps people overcome challenges to employment and become independent, tax-paying members of their communities. In 2007, 1.1 million people benefited from Goodwill's career services. Goodwill Industries International reported $3.2 (b) billion in revenues, and channels 84 percent of its revenues directly into its programs and services.

To learn more about working with people with disabilities, visit www.goodwill.org.

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