Sleepy Bear Swap at LA Zoo Sept. 15

Local children are getting a free day of fun at the Los Angeles Zoo on Saturday, September 15, 2012, along with new teddy bears and more thanks to “Travelodge’s The Great Sleepy Bear Swap.”

The special one-day event invites children and their families to bring a gently-used stuffed animal to the zoo to donate to charity in exchange for one free kid’s admission and a brand new Sleepy Bear teddy bear.

While free admission is limited to the first 100 children who bring a donation, everyone at the zoo is able to participate in fun-filled activities including face painting and drawing contests along with giveaways such as bear temporary tattoos, National Geographic activity books and Sleepy Bear masks. A keeper from the zoo will also be on hand to educate children about bears and the role they play in the wild.

“For over 75 years, the Travelodge hotel brand has been delivering memorable experiences and giving back to the communities where our hotels are located,” said Mark Young, Travelodge brand senior vice president. “With Travelodge’s The Great Sleepy Bear Swap, we’re continuing both of these great traditions while giving everyone in the Los Angeles area a chance to come out and say hi to Sleepy Bear, our beloved mascot.”

Stuffed animals gathered from the events will be donated to Stuffed Animals for Emergencies (S.A.F.E.), a national organization that cleans and redistributes the toys to children in need. For every stuffed animal donated at the event. In addition, the Travelodge hotel brand will match it with a donation of three brand new Sleepy Bear teddy bears to the Starlight Children’s Foundation, up to 1,500 bears. Starlight is the signature charity of Travelodge and parent company Wyndham Hotel Group.

“For many children, the gift of a stuffed animal is a simple gesture that can help brighten their day, especially when you’re talking about children facing severe illness and other hardships,” said Young. “Starlight and S.A.F.E. are both organizations that do great work with children across the country and we’re delighted to be able to support them through these events.”

Young also announced that the Travelodge brand would make a $10,000 donation through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums in support of black bear conservation.

This is the third of five events to be hosted by Travelodge at zoos across America, with two more scheduled to take place in Miami and San Francisco by mid-October. Previous locations included The Philadelphia Zoo in Philadelphia, Penn. and The Fort Worth Zoo in Fort Worth, Texas. Additional details, including dates and times for all upcoming events, are available at www.Travelodge.com.