Toy Industry Campaigns Raise $100,000 for Children in Need

The fundraising push included a month-long effort at nearly 500 Chuck E. Cheese locations. Customers participated by donating at checkout via pin pads or by purchasing limited-edition Thinking Putty, with all proceeds directed to the foundation. In exchange for five-dollar donations, families received bonus tickets for arcade prizes, blending charitable giving with the brand’s core entertainment experience. Simultaneously, Build-A-Bear held a weeklong campaign across its U.S. and UK workshops, encouraging shoppers to contribute at registers and online.

Beyond these cash donations, the effort coincided with a broader toy distribution drive. Nearly 20 companies contributed $5.7 million worth of toys, which are currently being delivered to more than 450,000 children in schools, hospitals, and underserved neighborhoods globally. Pam Mastrota, executive director of The Toy Foundation, noted that these collaborations are designed to transform lives by ensuring children have access to the developmental and emotional benefits of play.