FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Adrienne Appell
Toy Industry Association
646.520.4863 / cell: 646.207.3724
aappell@toyassociation.org
Elise Rowan
National Court Appointed Special Advocates Association
202.545.3311 / cell: 614.506.2128
eliser@casaforchildren.org
Local Toy Industry Volunteers Roll Up Their Sleeves to Help 25,000 Foster Children
Toy Industry Foundation and National CASA Teamed Up to Bring Toy Packages to Kids in Need
Compton, CA | June 16, 2016 – Thousands of foster children throughout Southern California will be given the magic and joy of play thanks to 250 local volunteers brought together today by the Toy Industry Foundation (TIF) and National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association (CASA) at TIF’s annual “Play Your Part” event.
Volunteers from nearly 30 toy companies— including Bandai, Educational Insights, Funrise, JAKKS Pacific, Mattel, Spin Master and The Walt Disney Company — helped to sort, wrap and pack toys for 25,000 foster care children in Southern California and seven additional states. Additionally, hundreds of LA-area foster children were on-site at the event to receive dolls, games puzzles, arts & crafts and other skill-building playthings. All toys were donated by generous manufacturers and retailers to TIF’s Toy Bank with the goal of providing comfort to children awaiting placement in loving, permanent homes. Nearly 50 participating toy companies helped make this event possible through sponsorships, toy donations and/or volunteers.
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“Childhood should be all about enjoying the pure magic of play – but many kids in the foster care system have to face very grown-up problems at such a young age,” said Jean Butler, TIF Executive Director. “It is our hope that in sharing these toys with them, these kids feel comforted knowing that they have not been forgotten.”
Maria Gonzalez, office manager at Educational Insights, volunteered at the event with colleagues and industry friends. “At Educational Insights, we’re play enthusiasts so we aim to create experiences for all children filled with joy and laughter,” said Gonzalez. “With our participation in this event, we’re given the opportunity to spread the love of play to children who may need a healthy dose of it. Play allows us to get lost in the sheer joy of the moment where nothing else matters; we are privileged to give this gift to children in foster care.”
The partnership between the Toy Industry Foundation and National CASA began in 2013; to date, TIF has distributed more than 225,000 toys to foster children served by CASA programs. In addition, grant funds provided by TIF to the National CASA network have helped to recruit and train needed CASA volunteers to stand up for the needs and rights of abused and neglected children.
“The Toy Industry Foundation supports us in our efforts to increase the number of advocates available to abused and neglected youth across the country, while giving CASA volunteers the opportunity to share the gift of play with the children they serve,” said Tara Perry, Chief Executive Officer of the National CASA Association. “We are all very grateful for this partnership and thrilled at the success of the Play Your Part event.”
The Toy Industry Foundation works year-round with partners and international charities to bring new toys and games to children who are underserved, at-risk, in hospitals, and in military families. To date, TIF has provided more than $130 million in toys to 19 million children in need.
About Toy Industry Foundation www.toyindustryfoundation.org
The Toy Industry Foundation (TIF) is a non-profit organization whose mission it is to bring the magic of play to children in need. While other organizations provide food, shelter and support services to children and their families, TIF sees to it that these children have toys and opportunities to play in an attempt to restore both fun and a sense of normalcy to their lives. To date, TIF’s signature program, The Toy Bank, has provided more than $130 million in toys to 19 million children in need around the globe, thanks to its generous toy donors.
About The National CASA Association
The mission of the National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association, together with its state and local member programs, supports and promotes court-appointed volunteer advocacy so every abused or neglected child in the United States can be safe, have a permanent home and the opportunity to thrive. Today, more than 76,000 CASA and GAL volunteers serve more than 251,000 children, but approximately 400,000 children are without an advocate. National CASA Association is working in partnership with its state and local programs in 49 states to close that gap to ensure the highest quality advocacy on behalf of America’s most vulnerable children.