The record sum raised through ticket sales, awards activity, raffles, auction bids, and financial donations will benefit The Toy Foundation’s charitable causes
More than $1 million was raised during the US Toy of the Year Awards in February through ticket purchases, awards activity, raffle participation, auction bids, financial donations and sponsorship.
Nearly 800 toy and play professionals, including Toys n Playthings, attended the celebration at Pier Sixty in New York City last month. Their generosity will support The Toy Foundation’s efforts to distribute toys and fund play projects for children in need around the world.
A record-breaking seven presenting sponsors – Amazon, Hasbro, Jazwares, Mattel, MGA Entertainment, Ravensburger, and Spin Master and Melissa & Doug – each took the stage to emphasise the importance of play in children’s lives, especially during challenging times, and encouraged the industry to engage philanthropically. The Toy Foundation also extended its thanks to the TOTY vision sponsorss.
“At the heart of the toy industry is a mission to place the joy of play into the hands of children everywhere, and The Toy Foundation is proud to channel the industry’s shared philanthropic purpose to give back in an extraordinary way,” said Pamela Mastrota, executive director of The Toy Foundation. “We are deeply grateful to the companies and individuals who supported the TOTY Awards. The more than $1 million raised will translate directly into comfort, healing, and joyful moments for children who need it most.”
All TOTY Awards proceeds will fund The Toy Foundation’s Toy Chest program, which collects and distributes the industry’s toy donations to children worldwide, and Play Fund program, which supports play projects at children’s hospitals nationwide and in disaster zones internationally. To date, The Toy Foundation has delivered play to more than 38 million children, providing immeasurable comfort and joy when they needed it most.
The TOTY Awards kicked off the 120th annual New York Toy Fair. At the close of the show, more than 100 companies donated toys, games, and other playthings to The Toy Foundation, which will directly impact nearly 27,000 children. The collection was coordinated in partnership with World Vision, which will also distribute the toy donations to qualified nonprofit organizations, schools, and children’s hospitals.
“We collected more than 100 pallets of the latest toys that are guaranteed to create ear-to-ear smiles,” Pamela added. “The Toy Fair collection demonstrates the extraordinary generosity of our industry and the powerful difference we can make when we act together.”
