MARK YOUR CALENDARS: The Toy Foundation’s Annual ‘Play Your Part’ Event Returns to LA on June 20

This year’s event will be held in a new donated space and have a new format, focusing more on fun-filled activities for 200 deserving children.

May 15, 2018 | Two hundred disadvantaged children in the Los Angeles area will get to experience a fun-filled day of play during The Toy Foundation’s (TTF) popular annual volunteer event – “Play Your Part LA,” which returns on June 20. Taking place in L.A.’s Dream Center from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., this year’s event will have a new format – volunteers will be able to focus more on entertaining and interacting with the kids, and there will be no more packing boxes or palletizing toys for distribution. Volunteer registration for the event is open through May 29.  

Play Your Part brings toy industry professionals together to positively impact children in need by either volunteering, donating product, or by sponsoring a portion of the event for children who attend the event. This year’s L.A. event will be hosted in partnership with The Dream Center, a charitable organization that finds and fills the needs of struggling people from all over the United States.

Toy professionals may volunteer as a face-painting artist, lead an arts & crafts activity, or see a child’s face light up by handing them their very own toy at special toy distribution tables. Toy companies may sponsor game or activity stations (eight to 10 currently available), fill bags with brand-new donated toys, or craft hand-written letters of comfort for children facing abuse, addiction, homelessness, hunger, or other adversities. Donated toys of all kinds will be accepted including arts & crafts activities, books, dolls, games, plush, puzzles, and sports toys for all ages.

Attending children will receive brand-new playthings from TTF’s Toy Bank, which is stocked by generous toy manufacturers and retailers throughout the year.

Last year, nearly 250 industry-wide volunteers graciously donated their time at Play Your Part LA. Over 40 toy companies were represented at the event via toy donations, volunteer efforts, and/or financial sponsorships. In total, 60,000 toys were donated, thanks to generous manufacturers, retailers, and distributors.

“The Foundation’s successful Play Your Part events are a rewarding way for the toy industry to give back to those who need it most,” said Elizabeth Max, TTF’s senior foundation manager. “We are thrilled to be able to return to Los Angeles this year, with an exciting new format that is sure to put smiles and laughter on the faces of many disadvantaged children, who are suffering hardships that we can only begin to imagine.”

Corporate teams and individuals looking to participate have until May 29 to sign up. Sponsorship commitments are needed ASAP, while toy donations will be accepted through June 11. Contact TTF’s Elizabeth Max (646.520.4851) to sign up or for more information.

TTF will be holding a Chicago-based Play Your Part event in July. Details will be announced soon.