Toys "R" Us January 6 reversed its decision and awarded a $25,000 savings bond to a baby born on New Year's Day to parents who are not legal United States residents.
The company was giving away not one but three prizes in the contest for the first baby born in 2007, including one to Yuki Lin, who arrived at midnight at New York Downtown Hospital in Manhattan. Yuki had tied with two others: Yadira Esmeralda, born at Southside Hospital in Bay Shore, on Long Island; and Jayden Swain of Gainesville, Georgia. Yuki was chosen the winner by a drawing from all three names, then was disqualified because the rules excluded babies whose mothers are not legal residents. The prize was then awarded to Jayden. (Source: Timothy Williams and Nina Bernstein, The New York Times, Jan 7 2007).