FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Donations to The Toy Foundation’s Campaign Bring Comfort to Ukrainian Refugee Children and Families
Over 100,000 Toys Shipped to Children and $350,000 in Initial Cash Grants to Refugee Programs Fulfilled in Ukraine and Europe
New York, NY | May 3, 2022 - As Russia’s war on Ukraine progresses, The Toy Foundation’s (TTF) relief campaign has started to deliver a variety of essential products and aid to Ukrainian refugee children and families. Through the generosity of its toy family donors, TTF has shipped more than 100,000 toys and other essentials to Ukrainian children and provided $350,000 in cash grants to refugee programs in Ukraine and Europe.
“We are grateful to serve as the uniting force for the industry’s philanthropy and concern for children in need,” said Pamela Mastrota, executive director of TTF. “Our toy family’s incredible generosity and leadership have positioned us to deliver comfort to refugee children and families where it is needed most, both in Ukraine and neighboring countries.”
TTF is partnering with Convoy of Hope, Heart4Orphans, and Operation Compassion to deliver more than $1.4 million worth of toys, clothing, bedding and more to refugee children in Europe. Over 85,000 additional toys are currently scheduled for transport. In addition, TTF recently made initial cash grants totaling $350,000 to the United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR), KIDDISVIT, Plast, Convoy of Hope, Heart4Orphans, and Operation Compassion.
“The toys from The Toy Foundation bring the refugees so much joy. So many of them left everything behind and arrived with only the clothes they were wearing,” said Mark Fashevsky with Heart4Orphans, which is focused on delivering aid to Ukrainian refugees residing in Moldova, Poland, and within Ukraine.
TTF is also working with Pavel Ovchynnikov, president of the Ukrainian Toy Association and CEO of KIDDISVIT, and Toy Association member company Wise Elk to identify on-the-ground relief efforts and providers in Ukraine that are making a difference in their communities and across the country. These partnerships are ensuring refugees receive food, hygienic items, medicine, and for every child, a toy.
“One of the many things that has made me so proud of the Foundation’s campaign is that we are working with our toy family in Ukraine to offer support to those who stayed or relocated within their country,” said Andy Weiner, TTF board chair.
TTF thanks all donors for their generous contributions, including recent contributors Build-A-Bear Workshop, Carpe Diem Games, Funrise, Galison Mudpuppy, Juratoys, The Manhattan Toy Company, Melissa & Doug, MGA Entertainment, Playmates Toys, Radio Flyer, So Young, Tee Turtle, Thames & Kosmos, Trebco Specialty Products (Wubbanub), Universal Brand Management, and Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment (WiT).
TTF continues to accept donations here or by contacting TTF’s Executive Director Pamela Mastrota or TTF’s Director of Development John Fistolera. For product donations, fill out a donation form here and send to ttfinfo@toyfoundation.org.
Nonprofit organizations looking to receive a monetary grant or product donation, please contact John Fistolera.
To learn more about The Toy Foundation’s work, visit toyfoundation.org.
About The Toy Foundation www.toyfoundation.org
The Toy Foundation (TTF) is a 501 (c)3 children's charity whose mission is to provide philanthropic support and the vital commodity of play to children and families in need, across the country and globe. TTF's donations represent the charitable works of TTF and the toy industry. Last year, TTF provided $360K in cash grants to nearly 4 million children severely impacted by the pandemic. Since its inception in 2003, TTF's signature Toy Bank has provided $225 million in toys to more than 26 million underserved children coping with serious illness, enduring temporary home placements in the foster care system, living with domestic violence, and/or dealing with natural disasters. TTF is also broadening its mission to provide grant funding to children's hospitals to encourage healing through play and to foster a diverse and inclusive culture and pipeline of talent for the toy industry.