The Toy Foundation™ (TTF) is calling on companies across the industry to come together for this year’s International Day of Play (IDOP) to help ensure every child has access to toys and play.
Following the United Nations’ 2024 designation of June 11 as the International Day of Play, recognizing play as a fundamental right for every child, TTF launched an annual, industry-wide initiative in honor of IDOP that has already impacted more than 200,000 children worldwide.
“Play is essential to every child’s life to create joy, spark imagination, and support their emotional well-being, yet millions of children still lack access to quality play opportunities. Together, the industry can deliver the power of play to children who need it most – at a scale no single company can achieve alone,” said Pamela Mastrota, executive director of The Toy Foundation.
Ways to get involved in The Toy Foundation’s initiative to celebrate International Day of Play 2026:
- Donate Product to the Toy Chest (click here for the donation form)
The most direct way to make an impact is by donating product to TTF’s Toy Chest. Companies of any size can participate by contributing any number of toys, from 500 to 5,000 pieces, that will be placed directly into the hands of children in need. There are no associated costs and TTF coordinates the logistics, making this an easy and cost-effective way to give back.
- Launch an Employee Giving Campaign
Your team is passionate about play — engage them in a meaningful way by activating an IDOP employee giving campaign. All companies can invite employees to donate funds to causes they care about via TTF’s Gift Catalog. For a hands-on activity, retailers, marketing and consulting firms, tech companies, and more can organize an employee-wide toy collection at the company’s office(s)*. These campaigns build pride, strengthen culture, and amplify your company’s impact.
- Activate a Retail Campaign
Engage your customers with a cause marketing campaign. Whether through a buy-one-give-one model or point-of-sale donations, these programs turn everyday purchases into acts of generosity. TTF works with you in providing and developing assets to launch campaigns that not only raise critical funds, but also deepen customer loyalty and showcase your company’s belief that every child deserves play.
The toy industry has a unique ability to deliver comfort, joy, and connection through play. Partner with TTF this International Day of Play to ensure every child has access to that power. Contact Kevin Colman, director of development, to learn more and get involved.
Year-round, TTF unites the toy industry’s collective philanthropy to create meaningful impact, supporting 38 million children worldwide since 2003. Visit ToyFoundation.org to learn more.
*Companies that host an employee toy collection may be asked to coordinate and cover the associated shipping costs, depending on the number of collection points and amount of product collected.