TOTY Awards 2026 raises over $1m for The Toy Foundation

This year’s Toy of the Year Awards raised over $1m to support The Toy Foundation’s efforts to distribute toys and fund play projects for children in need around the world.

Nearly 800 toy and play professionals attended the celebration at Pier Sixty in New York City, where their ticket purchase, awards activity, raffle participation, auction bids and financial donations all contributed to the $1m figure.

“At the heart of the toy industry is a mission to place the joy of play into the hands of children everywhere, and The Toy Foundation is proud to channel the industry’s shared philanthropic purpose to give back in an extraordinary way,” said Pamela Mastrota, Executive Director of The Toy Foundation.

“We are deeply grateful to the companies and individuals who supported the TOTY Awards. The more than $1 million raised will translate directly into comfort, healing, and joyful moments for children who need it most.”

All TOTY Awards proceeds will fund The Toy Foundation’s Toy Chest program, which collects and distributes the industry’s toy donations to children worldwide, and Play Fund program, which supports play projects at children’s hospitals nationwide and in disaster zones internationally. To learn more or get involved, contact The Toy Foundation team.

–

To stay in the loop with the latest news, interviews and features from the world of toy and game design, sign up to our weekly newsletter here

More Recent News

Hasbro launches AI studio Sixth Wall to give partners a framework for bringing its characters into AI experiences

“It opens entirely new surfaces for play and storytelling, from making a store greeting feel magical to transforming a call waiting experience into a moment with a fan’s favourite character,” said Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks.

Visitor registration now open for BLE 2026

“BLE 2026 is set to be the biggest edition yet,” said Ella Haynes, BLE event director.

LEGO brings SMART Play tech to Pokémon sets

“LEGO Pokémon creatures respond to children’s actions: meaning fans can build, train and interact with their LEGO Pokémon creatures through hands-on, imaginative play that encourages creativity, confidence and storytelling,” said Julia Goldin, Chief Marketing and Product Officer at the LEGO Group.

Asmodee readies Star Wars: Unlimited Icons

“We can’t wait for fans, both old and new, to get their hands on the set and show the community what they’re made of,” said Roger Martin, Marketing Director at Asmodee.

Bigjigs Toys issues warning over rise in fake NeeDoh product

“The safety of children is always our top priority, and we’re concerned that these knock-offs not only fail to deliver the same quality experience, but may also expose customers to unregulated, harmful chemicals,” said Sam Ireland, Operations Director of Bigjigs Toys.

LEGO and Nike team up for football-inspired footwear and apparel

The collection combines ‘Nike’s elite performance innovation with the LEGO Group’s unmistakable design language’.