TOTY Award Winners Announced

February 17, 2012 By

More than five hundred toy industry executives and guests from around the globe gathered in New York City on February 11 to honor their peers at the 12th annual Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards and Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

A Toy Industry Association (TIA)-administered event in support of the Toy Industry Foundation, the  gala held in Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center kicked off the 109th American International Toy Fair and paid tribute to today’s superstars, tomorrow’s bright up-and-comers, and illustrious toy industry icons.

Interspersed with the presentations of 12 TOTY Awards were two inductions into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame: Arnie Rubin, Founder and CEO of Funrise Toy, and the late Frederick August Otto Schwarz, founder of FAO Schwarz. The new inductees join a distinguished roster of nearly 60 toy industry luminaries who have been inducted into the Hall since its establishment in 1985.

Award winners were selected with the input of consumers (on ToyAwards.org), retailers (mass and specialty), media, and members of the toy industry. The five ballots were weighted and used to determine the category winners as well as the overall “Toy of the Year” award.
LeapPad Explorer by LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. received the coveted “Toy of the Year” title and was also awarded Educational Toy of the Year and Preschool Toy of the Year. The awards program included 77 finalists across the 11 categories.

And the winners are…

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TIA Reveals New Hall of Fame Inductees

November 23, 2011 By

The Toy Industry Association (TIA) announced that Arnie Rubin, founder and CEO of Funrise Toy Corporation, and the late Frederick August Otto Schwarz, founder of FAO Schwarz, have been selected as the next inductees into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame comprises a roster of 57 individuals who have been recognized for their significant contributions to the growth and success of the toy industry. The newest inductees were nominated by toy industry members and selected via vote from TIA members and previous Hall of Fame honorees.

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Ballot for Toy Industry Hall of Fame

October 10, 2011 By

Voting for the next inductees into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame has started, and will run through October 14. TIA invites designated points of contact at TIA member companies, former Hall of Fame inductees, and recent TIA Board members to rank their choices in the living and posthumous categories. Each first place ranking will receive four points, each second place ranking will receive three points, and so on.

The candidates for induction into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame are: Judith (Judy) Ellis, chair, toy design department at the Fashion Institute of Technology; Patrick (Pat) Feely, president of PSF Consulting; Arnie Rubin, founder of Funrise, Inc.; and Jerry Storch, CEO and chairman of Toys “R” Us, Inc.

The candidates for posthumous induction into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame are: Russell (Russ) Berrie, founder of Russ Berrie, Inc.; Jack Friedman, former chairman, CEO, and co-founder of Jakks Pacific; and Frederick August Otto Schwarz, founder and president of FAO Schwarz.

The 2012 inductees will be announced in conjunction with promotion of the annual Toy of the Year (TOTY) awards program. The inductees will be honored during a ceremony held in conjunction with the TOTY Awards on February 11 at the Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City. For more information, visit www.toy-tia.org.

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TIA Announces 2011 TOTY Nominees, Toy Industry Hall of Fame Inductees

November 23, 2010 By

In a special press conference held at New York City’s Bryant Park, the Toy Industry Association (TIA) unveiled the 70 nominees for the 2011 Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards and the inductees for the 2011 Toy Industry Hall of Fame. The TOTY finalists were selected from a record pool of 500-plus toys, games, and properties that were submitted for consideration.

TIA announced that through January 14, retailers, media, members of the toy industry, as well as families, can vote for their favorite toys and each ballot will be weighted to determine the 2011 TOTY winners. Winners will be announced during the TOTY Awards ceremony on Saturday, February 12. To see the 2011 nominees, visit www.ToyAwards.org.

Also announced by the Association were the 2011 inductees for the Toy Industry Hall of Fame: Al Verrecchia, chairman of the board of directors at Hasbro, and the late Donald Duncan, founder of Duncan Toy Company. Verrecchia and Duncan will be recognized for their contributions and service to the toy industry at the TOTY Awards.

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Voting Begins For 2011 Toy Industry Hall of Fame

August 4, 2010 By

The Toy Industry Association (TIA) is accepting votes for the 2011 Toy Industry Hall of Fame, to take place in conjunction with the Toy of the Year Awards during Toy Fair Week in New York City. Voting started yesterday and will run until August 27, with the winners awarded on February 12.

Living nominees include:
•Fashion Institute of Technology Toy Design Department Chair Judith Ellis
•Former Radica Games, Ltd. CEO Patrick Feely
•Funrise Toys, Ltd. Founder and CEO Arnie Rubin
•Director Steven Spielberg
•Hasbro, Inc., Chairman Alfred Verrecchia

Posthumous nominees include:
•Russ Berrie, Inc., Founder Russell Berrie
•Duncan Yo-Yo Founder Donald Duncan
•Briarpatch, Inc., Co-founder Martine Redman

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TIA Calls for Nominations for Toy Industry Hall of Fame

June 3, 2010 By

The Toy Industry Association (TIA) is inviting TIA members and toy industry stakeholders to submit candidate nominations for the Toy Industry Hall of Fame in February 2011. The nomination period is currently open and will close June 30.

TIA members and non-member stakeholders within the North American toy industry are eligible to submit candidates for consideration. Membership in TIA is not a prerequisite for submitting a nomination.

The candidate(s) should have accomplishments such as: long experience in the industry; innovative product or marketing introductions; manufacturing process changes, which significantly improved the process or product; service on the TIA Board of Directors, or in other important capacities in or related to toys and youth entertainment; and an unimpeachable record of integrity and respect in the industry.

The Toy Industry Hall of Fame Committee will meet in July to review the nominations received. For more information, click here.

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