Toys for the North, a national toy collection and distribution charity that distributes toys to some of Canada’s most northern communities, is thrilled to announce that this year’s donated toys value more than $470,000, a 170% increase over 2021, an 840% increase in toys collected since 2019, and a record-breaking amount of toys collected in a single season.
The 10th Annual Christmas with the Curry’s kicked off the holiday season and spirit with a major charitable drive at Bridge Yard in Oakland, California, supporting 500 local Oakland families on Sunday, December 11th. Among the many charitable partners, Hape had the honor of supporting more than 2,000 participants with wrapped branded product to take home. Each family went home with more than $2,000 worth of gifts inspired by Stephen and Ayesha Curry’s Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation – a perfect match and fit for Hape’s “Love Play, Learn” mantra.
2023 will see the induction of three members of the WTHRA Hall of Fame including Lorraine Bozeman, Carol Knight and Mark Parsons. A Retailer of the Year award will be given to a small west coast based toy store chain, Piccolo Mondo located in Oregon. The ToyFest Gala will take place at Resorts World’s nightclub Zouk, Tuesday, Feb 28, 2023, at 7:00 PM. While ToyFest has evolved from a local toy show for specialty retailers, based in Pomona, CA to a national show, utilizing both permanent showrooms and temporary booths at the World Market Center Las Vegas, the basics have remained the same. The core value, toy industry community, camaraderie and celebration are at its pinnacle during the ToyFest Gala at which awards are given to respected industry leaders.
Country Music star Tyler Hubbard, First Responders Children’s Foundation, and leading global toy company Mattel teamed up this week to deliver 2,000 toys to children undergoing treatment at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville, the local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital.
Distroller World, a retail entertainment brand that exists to fill the world with joy by pushing the limits of imagination and creativity through unique experiences and storytelling, will donate 50 Neonate Babies to the Miracle Babies Santa’s Workshop toy drive event on Dec. 14-20, 2022. The event will be held by appointment only at 8745 Aero Drive, Suite 308, San Diego, CA 92123.
The U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, Hasbro, Inc, a global branded entertainment leader, and Marine Toys for Tots have teamed up to deliver toys and games to families and children impacted by the environmental and economic impacts in San Juan, Puerto Rico as a result of Hurricane Fiona. Hasbro’s donated toys and games will be delivered by Fat Albert, the all-Marine KC-130 crew of the famed Blue Angels on Thursday, December 8th. The toys and games will then be distributed by Toys for Tots to families with children in need throughout communities in Puerto Rico.
What do you get when you combine rescue dogs, cool pet products and trendy canine couture? You get the inaugural Rescue on the Runway presented by Pet Retail World. It’s all happening on Saturday, December 10 from 3 to 9 p.m. at 873 Broadway at 18th St. in Manhattan. Rescue pooches will be the stars of the runway, but in order to be the best advocate for them, not all of them will be in designer duds. (Yes, not all pups like to wear clothes and we want to make sure all the animals are as comfortable as possible.) Instead, two-legged handlers will showcase the products as they walk the runway with the adoptable pups. Best of all, three New York City animal rescue organizations: Waggy Tail Rescue, Second Chance Rescue NYC and No More Pain Rescue will benefit from the proceeds of the event.
The Toy Authority, the leader in short form video focused on toys, announced today the winners of the 2022 People’s Play Awards. Consumers had cast their votes for their favorite toys across 17 categories helping to create a list of the most-wanted products just in time for the holiday shopping season. “The high voter turnout showed the consumer’s passion for toys,” said Jim Silver, CEO of TTPM/ The Toy Authority. “While many categories were close, the current popularity of Squishmallows, LEGO,Barbie and Hot Wheels really stood out. The People’s PlayAwards are designed to amplify a variety of play patterns across different categories to help holiday shoppers see some of the most popular toys for this holiday season.”
On December 10th and 11th the 2022 Holiday Chicago Toy & Gift Fair (CHITAG), North America’s largest toy & game fair open to the public, will be resuming their annual in-person event after a 2-year hiatus due to COVID. This marks the 20th year for CHITAG, which will take place at a new venue this year: the Donald J. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont (5555 N River Rd Rosemont, IL 60018). As one of the only toy and game fairs open to the public, thousands of families expected to attend will experience immersive events, interactive exhibits and activities for all ages. This year’s highlights include a Gel Blaster Activation, craft and build at the Spaghetteez booth, fan favorite the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, Giant Jenga games, the Beer and Board Game Garden is back, plus magicians and characters including Greg Heffley from Diary of a Wimpy Kid, sports mascots, and booths with the hottest holiday toys and games from industry leading companies.