Giving Back: Beanie Babies & Benevolence

Aloha means hello and goodbye; and in the case of a special-edition Beanie Baby, it also means the ability to help thousands of people.

On Aug. 8, the island of Maui changed in an instant when wildfires swept through the western coast, causing catastrophic damage to homes and the lives that inhabited them. Less than 10 days later, Ty Warner, founder of Ty Inc., unveiled the Aloha bear, a limited-edition Beanie Baby released to raise funds for the American Red Cross and its relief efforts on the island.

“The sight of such suffering moved [Warner] greatly, and he wanted to offer a symbol of hope and provide concrete assistance,” says a Ty Inc. spokesperson.

Aloha comes with a rainbow ribbon tied in a bow around its neck and “Maui Strong” inscribed on its chest. Like all Beanie Babies, it features a tag with its birthday (Aug. 8) and a poem: “Helping each other all day long / We forever will stay Maui strong.”

Beanie Babies created for the benefit of philanthropic causes date back to the meteoric rise of Ty’s popularity as a maker of plush products for the specialty retail market. In 1997, Ty Inc. created a deep purple bear named Princess to honor the late Princess Diana, with the proceeds going to the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund. More recently, Beanies have been sold to raise money for bereavement care in the UK after the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, Autism support, Australian wildfire relief, COVID-19 response efforts, and more. Last year, proceeds from the sale of Beanie Babies for the entire month of March were donated to Save the Children to assist those impacted by the war in Ukraine.

When asked how the company is able to respond to crises so urgently, Ty Inc. credits Warner’s talent as a designer and his feeling of obligation to help those who need it. Ultimately, they share that they’re able to create these special Beanies because they know that people “really do want to help” causes however they can.

“Certainly, the urgency of a true crisis engenders focus. In terms of process, Warner works with his longstanding factory partners to prioritize these limited-edition Beanies,” the spokesperson says.

Beyond the bears, Ty Inc. supports hundreds of local charities and events every year, including The Toy Bank, Toys for Tots, and others. While the Beanies might be small, they provide something much larger that can never be understated: hope, comfort, and the promise of a better tomorrow.

A version of this feature was originally published in the 2023 Innovation & STEAM issue of The Toy Book. Click here to read the full issue! Want to receive The Toy Book in print? Click here for subscription options!