DEI Pipeline Program Culminates at the TOTY® Awards and Toy Fair® with Content-Rich Agenda
August 8, 2023 | The Toy Foundation™’s (TTF) unveiled its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) agenda for students and industry professionals attending the Toy of the Year® (TOTY®) Awards and Toy Fair®. The content-rich programming offers companies of all sizes opportunities to mentor and recruit diverse college and university students, as well as promotes internships and careers in the toy industry and offers valuable educational opportunities for all.
The capstone of TTF’s DEI Pipeline Program, which is supported year-round by Jazwares, the agenda kicks off at the TOTY Awards where the industry will celebrate the program’s year-round success and offer networking opportunities with students from the University of Maryland. Following, activity will take place every day of Toy Fair for all participating colleges and universities through TTF-hosted activities and The Toy Association™’s Student Congress and Toy Fair University events. Click here for the full agenda.
“Jazwares is proud to support The Toy Foundation’s DEI Pipeline Program and build the next generation of diverse leadership for our industry,” said Sara Rosales Montalvo, senior vice president of communications at Jazwares. “We believe an innovative idea can come from anywhere, and we look forward to seeing the powerful discussions between industry professionals and students at the TOTY Awards and Toy Fair.”
TTF’s DEI Pipeline Program engages young, diverse students year-round to grow their awareness around career opportunities within the toy industry and creates recruitment opportunities for participating companies. The agenda is a culmination of this work with new opportunities for attending companies and professionals to engage, mentor, and recruit students of various backgrounds and specialties through two breakfast networking events; mentorship luncheon; and career huddles at TTF’s exhibit. These events require RSVP, anyone interested in getting involved or attending, reach out to TTF staff.
Open to participating colleges and universities, the agenda also features six educational sessions led by top industry leaders from Beacon Media Group; Mattel; Otis College of Art and Design; Target; Thames & Kosmos; The Toy Association; and Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment.
“TTF is committed to the principle that diversity leads to better outcomes, improved strategy, and more creative thinking,” said Pamela Mastrota, executive director of the Toy Foundation. “We are excited companies of all sizes are engaging in our initiative and look forward to welcoming these talented young leaders into the toy family at the TOTY Awards and Toy Fair.”
The TOTY Awards, the toy industry’s must-attend party to celebrate play and fundraise for children in need, is taking place on September 29 at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit TOTYAwards.org.
Toy Fair, produced by The Toy Association, is taking place September 30 - October 3, 2023 at Javits Convention Center in New York City. For more information, visit ToyFairNY.com.
Follow The Toy Foundation on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook, and #TOTY for event news. Add the hashtag to your updates sharing how you’re participating in the DEI agenda.