The Toy Foundation is hosting the 24th annual Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards on Sept. 29 at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City at 6:30 p.m. The event kicks off Toy Fair, taking place Sept. 30 to Oct. 3 at the Javits Center, and will include six new categories for companies to submit nominations.
With four new categories focused on people and two new categories focused on campaigns, companies will have an opportunity to submit the achievements of an exceptional team member or outcomes of a successful initiative in addition to submitting their top products and properties across the usual 17 categories of play.
The new categories are Marketing Campaign of the Year, Corporate Social Responsibility Campaign of the Year, Champion of Sustainability, Champion of Diversity & Inclusion, Packaging Designer of the Year, and PR/Marketer of the Year.
“The six new TOTY categories add extra elements of excitement and anticipation for the prestigious event, demonstrating a commitment to recognizing the exceptional individuals and initiatives that play a vital role in driving growth and innovation,” says Adrienne Appell, Executive Vice President of Marketing Communications at The Toy Association. “We look forward to celebrating the outstanding achievements of all nominees and winners at the TOTY Awards.”
The TOTY Awards are an important fundraiser for The Toy Foundation as it helps advance its mission to unite the toy industry and create a world where every child experiences comfort, joy, and the extraordinary benefits of play. All event proceeds including award nominations, ticket sales, sponsorships, and onsite pledges will support the foundation’s programs.
The TOTY Awards represent products that are the “best” in the industry, and companies that win may use this award in driving consumer engagement and marketing their products during the holiday season.
This year’s TOTY Awards event is produced by BCL Entertainment. The Toy Foundation will unveil award winners and honor Toy Industry Hall of Fame inductees while attendees will have an opportunity for networking with other industry professionals all in the name of fun and fundraising.
Award nominations begin May 30. For further details on the new categories, visit toyassociation.org. For award nomination inquiries, contact toty@toyfoundation.org. Ticket sales and sponsorship opportunities will open in June. To reserve tickets or discuss sponsorship opportunities in advance, visit toyfoundation.org.
