All-Star New York Yankees Pitcher and FDNY Fire Fighters Help Introduce New FDNY Rescue Heroes At "The Center of the Toy Universe"

WHO/WHAT: Officials from The Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) and New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera will come together at Toys "R" Us Times Square for a special day of fire safety education as the new, exclusive line of FDNY Rescue Heroes figures and fire truck are formally unveiled. Members of New York's bravest, along with Rescue Hero Billy Blazes(TM), will arrive on a fire truck to personally deliver the limited edition products to the store shelves. FDNY firefighter Kevin Hannafin will provide a fire safety lesson to all those in attendance.

Introduced in 1998, the Rescue Heroes are a team of real-life, action figure heroes like firefighters, police officers, construction workers, mountain rangers, paramedics, etc., who provide positive role models for kids. As a result of the growing success of the line, Fisher-Price(R) approached the FDNY in December 2000 to talk about ways that Rescue Heroes might become "spokespeople" for fire safety. In May of 2001, Fisher-Price partnered with Toys "R" Us to create a special FDNY Rescue Hero figure that would be sold exclusively through the store with a portion of the profits being donated to the FDNY's Fire Safety Education Fund. After the September 11th tragedy, Fisher-Price and Toys "R" Us quickly made the decision to donate all the proceeds to the fund and significantly increase the production quantity. Together, Fisher-Price, Toys "R" Us and consumers helped raise over 1 million dollars. Now, with the help of their friends at the FDNY and Toys "R" Us, Fisher-Price is expanding its exclusive FDNY Rescue Heroes line introducing five new characters and a FDNY fire truck, with a portion of the profits continuing to be donated to the Fire Safety Education Fund.

WHEN/WHERE:

Wednesday, September 25th Toys "R" Us Times Square
9:45AM (FDNY fire truck visual) The Center of the Toy Universe
10:00AM (Ceremony) 1514 Broadway (at 44th Street) - New York