Fort Bliss Military Families Receive Thousands of New Toys from Toy Industry Foundation

April 23, 2013 By

FortBliss1Nearly 3,000 children living with their families on military base Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas were treated to a special toy giveaway on April 17 hosted by the Toy Industry Foundation (TIF) and national partner Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) Military Services.

Families stationed at Fort Bliss, as well as resident members of the Air Force, Marines, National Reserves, and others, enjoyed a “Day of Play” that included bouncy houses and games, music and entertainment, and a pizza party.  Children of all ages received brand new toys, games, and stuffed animals donated by generous toy manufacturers. Gifts distributed at this event were generously donated by Alex, DuneCraft, Ganz, Gibout Toys, Hasbro, Lee Magic Pen, Lego, Look Out World, Mattel, MindWare, RBI Toys, Reeves International, Safari Ltd., and TMI Toy Marketing International.

The event was held as part of the joint TIF /BGCA Play Comforts program – the first-ever national toy distribution initiative to serve every branch of the U.S. military.  Through Play Comforts, toys and games donated by caring toy companies are delivered on an annual basis to families on dozens of U.S. military installations at home and abroad. Now in its fourth year of operation, the program has provided more than $3.5 million in toys for children of military families.


Filed Under: News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Military Families in San Diego Receive Toys and Games from Toy Industry Foundation

March 6, 2013 By

Nearly 1,000 children of military personnel stationed in San Diego, Calif., were treated to a toy giveaway on March 2 by the Toy Industry Foundation (TIF) and national partner Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) Military Services. 

Families stationed at Naval Base Coronado were joined by marine families from nearby Camp Pendleton for a fun-filled day of play, crafts, entertainment, and food. The children were gifted with brand new toys and games donated by toy manufacturers from across the nation.

The event was the first of many toy giveaways to be held on military bases this year as part of the joint TIF/BGCA Play Comforts program–the first-ever national toy distribution program to serve every branch of the military. Now in its fourth year of operation, the program has provided more than $3.5 million in toys for children residing on U.S. military bases.

Gifts distributed at this event were donated by Barb-a-Mel Books, Cartamundi, Cloud B, DuneCraft, Elenco, GANZ, Gibout Toys, Hasbro, Kidz Toys, Lee Magic Pen, LEGO, Look Out World, Mattel, MindWare, RBI Toys, Squishable, TMI Toy Marketing International, and Wonder Forge.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Toy Industry Foundation Brings Holiday Cheer to Families on Hawaii Military Bases

December 12, 2012 By

More than 3,000 boys and girls living with their parents on Hawaii’s Schofield Barracks and Fort Shafter U.S. Army bases were treated to two days of toy giveaways on December 4 and 6,respectively. The events were hosted by the Toy Industry Foundation in partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) Military Services, who brought the spirit of the season to military families complete with gifts, holiday carolers, and the lighting of two of the largest Christmas trees in the country.   [Read more...]

Filed Under: News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Toy Industry Foundation Crosses Pacific, Brings Play to U.S. Military Families in Japan

November 7, 2012 By

Nearly 1,000 boys and girls stationed with their parents on Kadena U.S. Air Force Base in Japan were treated to an extraordinary day of gifts and play on November 1 by the Toy Industry Foundation (TIF) and partner Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) Military Services. Joined by Marine families stationed in nearby Okinawa, the children experienced a toy giveaway event, providing relief and a reminder of home to kids living with their parents so far away from what is familiar.

The TIF/BGCA Play Comforts program is the first-ever national toy distribution program to serve every branch of the military and is now in its third year of operation. Since the partnership launched, TIF has provided more than 200,000 toys to BGCA for children on U.S. military bases.

Through the Play Comforts program, toys donated to TIF’s Toy Bank by generous toy makers and merchants are delivered to families on dozens of U.S. military installations at home and abroad all year long.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: , , ,

TIF Annual Holiday Toy Drive Opens Nov. 1

October 31, 2012 By

The Toy Industry Foundation’s annual Holiday Toy Drive will be open from November 1 to December 31. The Holiday Toy Drive may be supported in three ways:

  • TODAY Show Holiday Toy Drive: Each year, TIF partners with TODAY to share the toy industry’s generosity with the nation. Companies that donate toys to this program are listed on the TODAY Show website; if $150,000 worth of toys are collected, TIF will appear on-air to speak about what the Foundation does and how toy companies are making a difference.
  • Play Comforts: In partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America Military Services, TIF will have helped 50,000 children of military families throughout 2012. Approximately 600 more toys are needed to finish the year.
  • General Donation to Toy Bank Network of 1,000 Charities: The Toy Bank works with children’s charities across the globe that help kids who are sick, living in disaster zones, underprivileged, or otherwise in need. Toys donated to the general network of charities will be matched with the appropriate recipients.

While the Toy Drive remains open through Dec. 31, donation forms must be submitted by Dec. 1 to ensure that the toys make it into the hands of children in time for the holidays.

For information on how to make a gift, contact thetoybank@toyindustryfoundation.org. Donation forms for the TODAY Show giving option can be accessed online.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , ,

One Week Left for the TIF Summer Toy Drive

August 22, 2012 By

There is a little more than a week to go before the Toy Industry Foundation’s (TIF) 2012 Summer Toy Drive closes shop for another year. Toy companies that would like to be included are invited to submit a product donation form by August 31st.

Since opening on May 1, 35 children’s charities across 14 states have received toys from this year’s Summer Toy Drive, including:

  • The Dream Center in Los Angeles, Calif., one of 100 Dream Centers internationally, the LA Dream Center aids more than 40,000 people each month and works closely with Los Angeles County’s Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to keep families unharmed.  Summer Toy Drive toys and games were distributed to children of families that the LA Dream Center supports.
  • Dolls for Daughters in Denver, Colo., distributes toys to Colorado families to help relieve the financial burdens of low-income families.  The charity lends a hand by taking the necessary steps to create a stable environment for children.
  • Kids Konnection in Washington, D.C., assists 1,500 children a week through summer camps, back-to-school sessions, Christmas events and more to try to bring about a safe and stable environment for DC’s youth. Toys donated by generous manufacturers to TIF were distributed during the Kids Konnection summer camp.

The Summer Toy Drive has also benefited children across 16 U.S. military bases through TIF’s Play Comforts program, and the Ronald McDonald House of NYC, where the Foundation threw a “Cowboy Hoedown” party for 100 pediatric cancer patients and their family members in July.

As part of TIF’s My Stuff Bags partnership, toys donated this summer will also be placed in duffel bags containing toiletries, blankets, and other comforting items to be distributed next month to Bronx kindergarten kids living in foster care.

A full list of charities that have been supported by the drive, as well as a complete list of summer donors, will be included on the Toy Industry Foundation website in September.

TIF’s Summer Toy Drive continues through August 31. Those interested in helping may make a product donation or contact Foundation Coordinator Melissa Kipp (646-520-4878) for more information.

This post was originally written by Sierra McCleary-Harris and published by ToyBook.com. For more news, visit www.toybook.com, follow The Toy Book on Twitter, and like The Toy Book on Facebook. The Toy Book is a bimonthly trade magazine covering the toy industry, published by Adventure Publishing Group.

Filed Under: 0-2, 3-5, 5-8, 6-8, 8 and up, 9 and up, News Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Children at Colorado Air Force Bases Gifted with Toys and Games

April 20, 2012 By

Toy Industry Foundation (TIF) partnered with Boys and Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) Military Services to spread joy to military children. To celebrate the Month of the Military Child, which honors courageousness and the unique challenges faced by children of our nation’s troops, the companies brought toys and games to nearly 3,000 children at Air Force bases throughout Colorado Springs. This event marked the first of many slated for this year under the TIF/BGCA Play Comforts partnership, a national toy distribution program to serve every branch of the military.

This post was originally written by Leah Rocketto and published by ToyBook.com. For more news, visit www.toybook.com, follow The Toy Book on Twitter, and “like” The Toy Book on Facebook. The Toy Book is a bimonthly trade magazine covering the toy industry, published by Adventure Publishing Group.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: , , ,

TIF Needs Your Toy Donations

July 20, 2011 By

The Toy Industry Foundation (TIF) is in critical need of new toys for its Play Comforts partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America Military Services and is asking the industry for donations. TIF’s Toy Bank needs toys, plush, games, books, and arts and crafts for kids of all ages. The organization stresses that no donation is too small. Shipping to Atlanta is required.

There are only two live Toy Bank distribution events left for this year and toys must be shipped no later than Friday, July 29 for the events serving 5,000 kids stationed in Norfolk, Va. and 8,000 children abroad in Germany. However, toy donations will be accepted at anytime; later this year, thousands of additional toys will be distributed to additional U.S. bases across the country.

For more information, contact thetoybank@toyindustryfoundation.org or (646) 454-5581.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: , , , ,

TIF and BGCA Kick Off Holiday Season with Toy Distribution

October 25, 2010 By

In time for Thanksgiving, representatives from the Toy Industry Foundation (TIF) and Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) will deliver new toys and games to more than 5,000 children at Florida’s MacDill Air Force Base.

The event, to be held November 17, will be the latest and largest event during the first year of the new TIF-BGCA Play Comforts partnership. Senior MacDill Air Force officials will be on-hand to accept the toys on behalf of the Air Force community. According to TIF, Play Comforts is the only known toy distribution program to support every branch of the U.S. military. TIF plans to distribute 25,000 toys to military children through the Play Comforts partnership by the end of the year.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: , , , , , ,

TIF Summer Toy Drive to End August 31

August 3, 2010 By

There is still a month left to donate to the Toy Industry Foundation’s Summer Toy Drive. To date, TIF has reached a third of its goal and has collected more than 100,000 toys for children in need. The foundation’s goal is to collect 300,000 toys for The Toy Bank by August 31.

Donations to The Toy Bank service a variety of programs including Play Comforts, an organization that partners with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America Military Services to help children with a parent deployed overseas; My Stuff Bags Foundation, which helps to  comfort abused and neglected children entering crisis and foster care; and Play Heals, which services young patients at Ronald McDonald Houses.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: , , , , , ,