Reserve Your Free Ticket for this Friday’s TOTY Awards & Metaverse Afterparty
February 14, 2022 | The industry is just days away from celebrating the virtual Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards and the first-ever TOTY Afterparty in the metaverse. Here’s everything you need to know:
The Virtual TOTY Awards
The one-hour awards program will begin promptly at 4 p.m. (Eastern). Winners will be revealed across 16 categories. Categories have been updated over the years to ensure the awards program remains representative of advancements and innovations across the toy industry and for 2022 the program introduces a brand-new Grown-Up Toy of the Year Award.
One esteemed toy will win the People’s Choice Award (based solely on consumer votes), and one will take home the coveted Toy of the Year Award (selected by a panel of retailers, journalists, and industry analysts). The program will also celebrate and support the philanthropic work of The Toy Foundation and commemorate four industry trailblazers into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame.
Honoring The Toy Foundation
One hundred percent of the award program’s proceeds support the work of The Toy Foundation in funding children's hospitals throughout the country, particularly those serving disadvantaged communities, through Toy Foundation Play Grants Program; providing grant relief to non-profits assisting families directly impacted by COVID-19; and supporting vital Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives that will impact all sectors of our industry.
Afterparty in the Metaverse
A TOTY first, toy fans everywhere will have the opportunity to step into the metaverse for a post-show afterparty. Powered by NewSky, the event will take place immediately following the TOTY Awards from 5 to 8 p.m. (Eastern). Guests will enter a special location in the metaverse where they will be able to mingle virtually via face-to-face chat features with industry friends and colleagues, take a closer look at this year’s TOTY winners, and enjoy the scenic views of a digital NYC skyline.
TOTY ticket holders will be automatically registered to attend the afterparty, however tickets must be reserved online prior to the event. Each attendee is required to register themselves using their individual email address.
"This year’s TOTYs are sure to deliver lots of fanfare and excitement as we celebrate the talent and innovation of our industry and the crucial work of The Toy Foundation,” said Pamela Mastrota, executive director of The Toy Foundation. “We can’t wait to gather virtually this Friday as we open up this once exclusive industry-only event to toy fans everywhere.”
Over the past two decades, the Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards have been unveiled at a sold-out gala in New York City that celebrated the top toys of the year and philanthropic work of The Toy Foundation, while helping to kick off the largest toy show in the Western hemisphere, Toy Fair New York. To learn more about this year’s virtual format and the TOTY Awards, visit TOTYAwards.org.