Network in the Metaverse at the TOTY Afterparty
February 1, 2022 | With anticipation building for this year’s virtual Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards and the reveal of the toys and games that will take home top honors, The Toy Foundation has announced an exciting new addition to the festivities — a TOTY afterparty in the metaverse!
The immersive virtual networking experience will keep the fun going well after the last award is presented and is open to all toy fans. TOTY ticket holders will be automatically registered to attend the afterparty, however tickets must be reserved online prior to the event.
The TOTY afterparty, powered by NewSky, will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. (Eastern). Held in a special location in the metaverse, guests will be able to mingle and virtually chat face-to-face with industry friends and colleagues, get an up-close look at the TOTY winners, and even look out over a digital NYC skyline.
"We can’t wait to celebrate the achievements of the toy industry and the wonderful philanthropic work of The Toy Foundation together in the metaverse during the TOTY afterparty,” said Pamela Mastrota, executive director of The Toy Foundation. “While last year’s virtual awards ceremony peeled back the curtain on the once exclusive industry-only event, allowing members of the general public to attend, this year’s addition of a metaverse networking space adds another experiential layer for guests to connect against a beautiful backdrop of New York City. We would also like to give a special thanks to Robin Raskin, founder of the Virtual Events Group (VEG), for helping coordinate this exciting opportunity.”
Please note that because this is a virtual event, each attendee is required to register themselves using their email address. Here’s a first look at the TOTY Awards afterparty in the metaverse.
The virtual TOTY Awards will honor the top toys and games on the market across 16 categories of play. The much-anticipated overall “Toy of the Year” winner and “People’s Choice” honoree will also be announced.
The TOTYs serve as a critical fundraiser for the philanthropic work of The Toy Foundation, which is building a new chapter to provide play through the Toy Foundation Play Grants Program, industry-focused Diversity & Inclusion initiatives, and its signature Toy Bank program that provides special toy distribution events for children and families in need across the globe. Ninety-eight cents on every dollar goes directly to support The Toy Foundation’s work of providing toys and grant funding to its charitable partners.
More information about the awards program is available at TOTYAwards.org.