New York, NY (RestaurantNews.com) FACE Amusement Group joined forces with National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) for the 31st Annual NYC Buddy Walk® at Times Square, one of the country’s largest Down syndrome advocacy and awareness events.
Gathering in Times Square, more than 2,500 participants joined the Buddy Walk to celebrate community, shift perceptions and advocate for greater opportunities for individuals with Down syndrome.
As part of the day’s festivities, FACE Amusement Group donated a teddy bear to every participant in Central Park, spreading joy and reinforcing its shared commitment to NDSS’s mission.
“We’re proud to once again stand alongside NDSS and the incredible Down syndrome community,” said Bucky Mabe, CEO of FACE Amusement Group. “Bear Hugs is about something very simple – bringing joy to people and letting them know they are valued. Seeing thousands of participants come together for the Buddy Walk and being able to put a bear in their hands makes this one of the most meaningful days of the year for our FACE team.”
The donation is part of FACE Amusement Group’s Bear Hugs program, which turns the excitement of winning a prize into an opportunity to give back. When a guest wins a teddy bear at a participating FACE Amusement location, including Guy Fieri’s Downtown Flavortown, FACE donates another bear to a charitable organization on the guest’s behalf. Through Bear Hugs, over 20,000 bears have been donated to local first responders and national organizations such as NDSS.
This year’s collaboration continues FACE Amusement Group’s ongoing partnership with NDSS. Together, the organizations are committed to uplifting families, creating joyful experiences and amplifying the voices of individuals with Down syndrome.
About National Down Syndrome Society
NDSS empowers individuals with Down syndrome and their families by driving policy change, providing resources, engaging with local communities, and shifting public perceptions. Our flagship Buddy Walk is an important fundraise for NDSS as well as a celebration of the Down syndrome community. For more information, please visit NDSS.org/all-buddy-walks. NDSS.org.
About FACE Amusement Group
FACE Amusement Group owns and operates a growing collection of entertainment and hospitality experiences throughout the United States. Specializing in good, clean, family fun, its amusement portfolio includes Arcade City, Big Top Arcade, Rockin’ Raceway Arcade, 7D Dark Ride Adventure, LuLu’s Beach Arcade, Mountain of Youth Ropes Course and The Mirror Maze. Its growing hospitality portfolio includes Guy’s Branson Kitchen and Bar, Downtown Flavortown Pigeon Forge and Downtown Flavortown Myrtle Beach.
With games of skill and rides that thrill, crazy mazes and racetrack blazes, FACE Amusement Group creates entertainment experiences where families and friends can compete, connect and create memories that last a lifetime.
FACE Amusement Group has received the Great Place to Work® recognition for its company for 2025 for the third year in a row. The prestigious award is based entirely on what current employees say about their experience working at FACE Amusement Group.
In addition to providing exceptional entertainment options, the company’s core values of Faith, Attitude, Consistency and Excellence (FACE) drive its wide-reaching philanthropic efforts, including the unique Bear Hugs program. For every stuffed bear plush toy won in a FACE Amusement claw machine, the company donates another bear to a local charity. To date, FACE Amusement Group has donated over 20,000 stuffed bears to a variety of charities. FaceAmusement.com.
Media Contacts:
Kim Dettwiller Burton / 615-330-5656 / kim@teamstrategies.net
Andrew Bledsoe / 423-483-8553 / Andrewb@faceamusement.com
Amy Drow / 202-498-1862 / adrow@ndss.org