Volunteer Registration Opens for TIF’s Annual ‘Play Your Part’ Event in LA

March 14, 2017 | Thousands of foster children will receive toys and games of their very own following the Toy Industry Foundation’s (TIF) largest annual volunteer event of the year – “Play Your Part LA” – scheduled to take place June 8 in Los Angeles, CA. Volunteer registration for the event is open through May 22.

Hosted in partnership with the National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association (CASA) for Children, 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, including new opportunities to sponsor a game or activity station for attending foster children.

At this year’s Play Your Part LA, volunteers will man “stuff-a-thon” stations, working in assembly-line fashion to pack gift bags with toys, plush, books, games, crafts, and other essentials to be given to thousands of local foster children from infants to pre-teens.

About a hundred foster children will join the festivities for a very special toy distribution, receiving brand-new playthings from TIF’s Toy Bank, which is stocked by generous toy manufacturers and retailers throughout the year. CASA volunteer advocates will also share information on the life of a foster child during lunchtime.

Last year, more than 200 industry-wide volunteers assembled toys and games into gift baskets for 25,000+ foster children. More than 40 toy companies were represented at the event via toy donations, volunteer efforts, and/or financial sponsorships.

“Each year, a growing number of volunteers roll up their sleeves to participate in the Foundation’s Play Your Part events. It is truly rewarding to see how enthusiastic the volunteers become, especially once they realize that offering their time can bring big smiles and laughter to foster care children, many of whom are suffering hardships from being placed in temporary homes,” says Elizabeth Max, TIF’s program manager.

Play Your Part LA will be held at the Beverly Hills Transfer & Storage in Gardena, CA. The event will be one hour shorter than previous years, taking place from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. (Pacific).

Corporate teams and individuals looking to participate have until May 22 to sign up. Sponsorship commitments are needed by May 15, while toy donations will be accepted through May 31. Contact TIF’s Elizabeth Max (646.520.4851) to sign up or for more information.

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