Learning Express Toys franchise owners rallied their support around Super Baskets of Hope following a request from Diane Bowser, owner of the Denville, New Jersey, Learning Express Toys location.
Volunteers from the New York metro area gathered not far from MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford—location of the 2014 Super Bowl—to package thousands of baskets for delivery by NFL players to children in local hospitals. Specifically, the NY/NJ Super Bowl Host Committee along with the Giants and Jets are distributing this year’s baskets. The Super Baskets of Hope project occurs each year in and around the Super Bowl host city.
A grassroots effort led by Bowser helped to bring together Learning Express Toys franchisees nationwide in support of Super Baskets of Hope. Bowser sent an email to all Learning Express Toys locations requesting Rainbow Loom kits, refills, and organizers. Within minutes, her email box was flooded with donations from store owners.
“Learning Express Toys is dedicated to community support,” says Bowser. “And I was overwhelmed by the generosity of the Learning Express Toys family.”
In total, Bowser gathered 750 Rainbow Loom kits and more than 1,000 packs of refill bands. Additionally, Bowser, along with Lauren and Mike Derse from the Home Office of Learning Express Toys and other Learning Express storeowners and staff from the NY/Metro region helped to package the baskets and totes for delivery.
“Diane personifies the incredible generosity of our owners,” says Lauren Derse, Learning Express Toys director of marketing. “Her initiative in organizing this donation was exemplary. We are fortunate to have such wonderful franchisees.”
Headquartered in Massachusetts, Learning Express Toys was founded in 1987 by Sharon DiMinico, who continues at the helm today. The nation’s leading franchisor of specialty toy stores, Learning Express Toys now has more than 130 stores nationwide with several new locations opening annually.
Photo caption: Dick and Diane Bowser (Denville Learning Express Toys Owners) with Washington Redskins Cornerback DeAngelo Hall and his wife, Jada Hall, at the Super Baskets of Hope packaging day.