Following the news that Toy Fair New York will be taking another year off due to concerns over COVID-19 and the spread of its variants, adjacent events are now adjusting plans for 2022.
Today, Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment (WiT) revealed that it is pivoting the long-awaited return of its Wonder Women Awards to a special “Wonder Women at Home” event. The winners, which were originally slated to be honored at an in-person gala on Sunday, Feb. 20, will now be announced on March 1 via press release with the Wonder Women at Home experience to follow at a later date. The Wonder Women Awards recognizes and honors remarkable leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers for their outstanding contributions in the toy, licensing, and entertainment industries.
“Although our live event has been canceled, we look forward to shining a spotlight on our incredible Wonder Women, Honorees, and Scholarship recipients for their outstanding achievements,” says WiT President Janice Ross. “It’s more important than ever to celebrate these extraordinary leaders in our industry who continued to make a monumental impact, even during continuing challenging times.”
While the industry won’t be gathering in person next month, WiT is starting to build excitement for this year’s honors by pulling back the curtain on the 2022 Wonder Women Awards Honorees.
- WiT Retailer of the Year: Amazon, accepted by Anne Carrihill, director, toys and entertainment.
- WiT Icon: Jojo Siwa
- WiT Changemaker: Encantos CEO Steven Wolfe Pereira will receive WiT’s Changemaker Award
“While our event may look different this year, we are committed to championing trailblazers at this year’s Wonder Women Awards and thank our community and WiT’s generous sponsors and hands-on partners who have been incredibly supportive as we’ve needed to swiftly pivot our plans,” say Wonder Women Awards Co-Chairs, Genna Rosenberg and Jennifer Caveza. “We look forward to sharing footage of the winners and honorees in a special tribute video, and also celebrate WiT’s 30th Anniversary at regional in-person events later in the year when it’s safer to do so.”
Voting for this year’s event has been extended through Sunday, Jan, 16, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. PST. Voting is open to all WiT members.
