FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Toy Association and The Genius of Play to be Honored by Children’s Museum of Manhattan at Denim & Diamonds Gala in NYC
October 2, 2017 | The Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) has announced that The Toy Association and its Genius of Play initiative will receive Corporate Leadership Awards for their commitment to raising awareness about play’s vital role in child development. The awards will be presented on Wednesday, October 25 at CMOM’s annual Denim & Diamonds Gala, a celebratory fundraising event held in New York City.
The Corporate Leadership Award is presented annually to entities demonstrating philanthropic leadership and dedication to the arts, children, health, and education. As the century-old, not-for-profit trade association representing 950+ toy manufacturers, retailers, and other play professionals, The Toy Association and its members continually strive to bring more smiles, more learning, and more skill-building play into the lives of children everywhere. The Genius of Play, a leading resource on the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional benefits of play, is a successful movement that encourages American families to make more time in their busy lives for play. Past recipients of the Corporate Leadership Award include Morgan Stanley, Learning Resources, Inc., and Samsung Electronics.
The Toy Association and the Children’s Museum are also celebrating the 10th anniversary of PlayHelps, a partnership that was designed to help children express their emotions through play in response to the ravages of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. PlayHelps programming has subsequently been adapted by the Louisiana Children’s Museum and continues today.
“It’s an honor for efforts of our members via The Toy Association and The Genius of Play to be recognized by the Children’s Museum of Manhattan,” says Steve Pasierb, president & CEO of The Toy Association. “We share CMOM’s commitment to bettering the lives of kids and families through the often simple – yet richly rewarding – act of play, and we admire the splendid work of CMOM in providing resources that enable children to thrive – at home, at school, and in the local community. I strongly encourage New Yorkers to visit CMOM and become active supporters of their mission.”
“The Children’s Museum of Manhattan is grateful to The Toy Association and its members for championing the value of play as a proven and successful way of learning and for encouraging families to spend more time having fun playing together,” says Andrew S. Ackerman, executive director of the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. “The Toy Association’s philanthropic leadership and dedication to the well-being of children and families, as demonstrated by the innovative Genius of Play initiative, make them a wonderful partner for the Children’s Museum.”
Proceeds from the Denim & Diamonds Gala will help fund programs and services delivered by the Museum to 350,000 people each year at its Upper West Side location and to thousands more through outreach programs at schools, libraries, homeless shelters, Head Start centers, and hospitals.
In 2017, CMOM's accomplishments included securing a national travel schedule for its groundbreaking exhibit, America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far; an expansion of its work with New York City agencies, providing health and literacy resources and training to 24 Head Start centers and homeless shelters; and a new initiative called All the Way to K and Beyond! which offers parents and caregivers resources and activities to help build their child’s language and literacy. With funds raised at the Gala, CMOM is poised to make even greater contributions allowing it to improve the lives of children and families for years to come.
The Denim & Diamonds Gala will take place October 25, 2017 at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers, Pier 61, in New York City. To purchase tickets or learn more about the gala, visit cmom.org/gala. Toy companies are also invited to submit toy and game donations to CMOM’s signature Tombola raffle, which will take place during the event’s cocktail hour. Donation confirmations are required by October 16.
About The Toy Association www.toyassociation.org / www.thegeniusofplay.org / www.playsafe.org
Founded in 1916, The Toy Association™, Inc. is the not-for-profit trade association representing all businesses involved in creating and delivering toys and youth entertainment products for kids of all ages. The Toy Association leads the health and growth of the U.S. toy industry, which has an annual U.S. economic impact of $80.25 billion, and its 950+ members drive the annual $26 billion U.S. domestic toy market. The Toy Association serves as the industry’s voice on the developmental benefits of play, and promotes play’s positive impact on childhood development to consumers and media. The organization has a long history of leadership in toy safety, having helped develop the first comprehensive toy safety standard more than 40 years ago, and remains committed to working with medical experts, government, consumers, and industry on ongoing programs to ensure safe and fun play.
As a global leader, The Toy Association produces the world-renowned North American International Toy Fair and Fall Toy Preview; advocates on behalf of members around the world; sustains the Canadian Toy Association; acts as secretariat for the International Council of Toy Industries and International Toy Industry CEO Roundtable; and chairs the committee that reviews and revises America’s widely emulated ASTM F963 toy safety standard.
About Children’s Museum of Manhattan www.cmom.org
The non-profit Children’s Museum of Manhattan – a citywide resource for children, families, and educators – works to ensure children thrive at home, at school and in the community. Based on West 83rd Street, with over 350,000 visitors annually, the Museum creates hands-on learning environments, programs, and curricula through an alchemy of fun, research and museum science. In addition to its commitment to delight and educate visitors, the Museum offers resources and strategies for parents, caregivers, and educators to help children become lifelong learners. Thousands more New Yorkers also benefit from the Museum’s offering through its outreach programs at schools, Head Start centers, shelters, libraries, and hospitals.
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