Letter of Recognition To Ty Warner
10/15/03:
Source: Santa Barbara Navy League
SANTA BARBARA NAVY LEAGUE CELEBRATES SUPPORT OF ty Warner
Announces $335,000 in Contribution from Ronnie™ the Bear Beanie Baby® Sales
For IMMEDIATE RELEASE: wednesday, OCTOBER 15, 2003 .
Santa Barbara, Calif., Oct. 15 – The Santa Barbara Navy League along with Congresswoman Lois Capps, Santa Barbara Mayor Marty Blum and
the officers and crew of visiting Navy ship USS DENVER (LPD 9) recognized Ty Warner for his contribution to the Santa Barbara Navy
League in support of those serving our nation at sea. The presentation was made at a reception held on board USS DENVER on Sunday,
October 12, 2003 . Nearly 800 community members including city and county leaders and the officers of a second visiting Navy ship, USS
HOWARD (DDG 83), were in attendance.
Ty created Ronnie™ the bear Beanie Baby® to commemorate the July 12, 2003 commissioning of USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN 76), America 's newest
aircraft carrier which was adopted by the Santa Barbara Navy League. Ty is donating 100 percent of the profits from the original sale of
Ronnie™ the bear Beanie Baby® to the Santa Barbara Navy League.
USS DENVER Commanding Officer Captain Brad Johanson, host of the event, served as the Executive Officer of USS RONALD REAGAN prior to
his current assignment.
At the event, Connie O'Shaughnessy-Los, President of the Santa Barbara Navy League, announced that in the first month of sales, Ronnie™
the bear Beanie Baby® generated $135,000 for the organization. Ty Warner then surprised her with a check for $200,000 for the second
month of sales bringing Ty's total contribution to date to $335,000.
The Santa Barbara Navy League presented Ty Warner with a USS RONALD REAGAN Honorary Plankowner's Certificate, a Navy tradition which
designates a ship's original crew members; a limited edition movie poster from “Hellcats of the Navy,” a 1957 film starring Ronald
Reagan and former first lady Nancy Reagan; and the first plate of Fitz and Floyd fine china specially created for USS RONALD REAGAN.
Santa Barbara Mayor Marty Blum acknowledged Ty Warner's local, national, and global charitable contributions with a City Proclamation in
his honor and she recognized the Santa Barbara Navy League with a City Proclamation for sponsoring the community's first Fleet Weekend
held Oct. 10-13, 2003 . USS DENVER and USS HOWARD were the participating ships in Fleet Weekend.
Ty Warner also took time to tour the USS DENVER and speak with the sailors. After the tour, Ty Warner noted that he gained a better
understanding of life aboard a Navy ship and how the Navy League makes a difference by providing upgrades to living areas, recreation
equipment and computers so sailors can stay in touch with loved ones back home.
"I am so proud to be part of an effort that supports the young men and women serving our nation in the military" stated Ty Warner. "I
truly appreciate their dedication, personal sacrifice and unwavering commitment to protecting the freedoms this nation holds dear. Each
of us owes them a debt of gratitude."
“ Santa Barbara is blessed to have generous philanthropists such as Ty Warner,” said O'Shaughnessy-Los. “Ty has contributed to numerous
worthy causes around the world and across the nation. He has also shown a tremendous commitment to our community.”
Ty Warner is CEO/Chairman of Ty Inc., and creator of the popular Beanie Babies®. In addition to the Beanie Baby® line, which is
celebrating its 10th anniversary, the company's product line includes: Beanie Buddies™, Classic™, Beanie Boppers™, Punkies™, Pluffies™
and Teenie Beanie Boppers™. The red Ty Heart Logo®, recognized around the world, can be found on all Ty products available at finer
specialty gift retailers.
Locally, Ty Warner is the owner of the Fours Seasons Biltmore Hotel, the Coral Casino, the San Ysidro Ranch and the Sandpiper Golf
Course.
The Navy League of the United States has provided moral support, recognition and family support to the personnel in the Navy, Marine
Corps, Coast Guard and the U.S. Flag Merchant Marine for 100 years. It is a morale-enhancing, prideful organization comprised of 75,000
civilians in 330 councils worldwide who volunteer their time to give members of the sea services the support and recognition they
deserve. The Santa Barbara Council sponsors local ship visits and provides activities for visiting crews while in port. The organization
has adopted the local U.S. Coast Guard Cutter BLACKFIN and local Marine Safety Detachment, and USS RONALD REAGAN. Visit
www.santabarbaranavyleague.org for more information.
City of Santa Barbara Proclamation
Letter of Recognition
TY WARNER
WHEREAS, Ty Warner has invested his time, energy and money into the renovation and beautification of several of the community's
architectural treasures including the Coral Casino, the Four Seasons Biltmore Hotel and the San Ysidro Ranch; he has undertaken these
endeavors with a tremendous amount of attention to detail and sensitivity to the historic integrity of these structures, and has done so
with the encouragement and involvement of the community; and
WHEREAS, Ty created a special “Ronnie the Bear” Beanie Baby to benefit the Santa Barbara Navy League in their efforts to support the
crew of USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN 76) and others serving our nation in the sea services; and has made significant contributions to local
organizations such as Lotusland and the Santa Barbara Land Trust and by donating Beanie Babies from the fundraising efforts of Old
Spanish Days and El Mariachi Festival; and
WHEREAS, Ty has demonstrated his concern and commitment to improving the environment by contributing $500,000 towards the repair, paving
and landscaping of the Channel Bluff bike path; and
WHEREAS, Ty has dedicated himself to causes around the nation with the contribution of Ty Park in Westmont Illinois, the creation of
special Beanie Babies and millions of dollars in private donations benefiting groups and charities such as the Pediatric AIDS
Foundation, the USO, the Andrew Agassi Charitable Foundation for Children at Risk, and the American Red Cross in response to 9/11; and
WHEREAS, Ty has also focused his attention on the global community with the creation of the Beanie Babies benefiting the Diana, Princess
of Wales Foundation, and with the donations of millions of Beanie Babies to the children of Iraq and to the Red Cross of Japan,
NOW, THEREFORE, I, MARTY BLUM, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Mayor of the City of Santa Barbara , California , do hereby
honor and recognize TY WARNER for his commitment and devotion to important issues of this community, the nation and the world.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Official Seal of the City of Santa Barbara, California, to be affixed
this 12th day of October 2003.
MARTY BLUM, MAYOR
MEDIA CONTACT:
Faye Eson
Santa Barbara Navy League Public Affairs Officer
(805) 895-8477
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