The Toy Association™ Joins Global Toy Industry to Celebrate International Day of Play

NEW YORK, June 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — In celebration of the second annual International Day of Play today, The Toy Association™ and its philanthropic arm, The Toy Foundation™, are joining global partners to reinforce the value of play in the lives of children everywhere.

As part of its commitment to advancing the global play movement, The Toy Association is among 15 organizations joining a UNICEF-led global call to action, recognizing the International Day of Play as a unifying moment to protect and promote every child’s right to play. Adopted by the United Nations last year, the International Day of Play inspires systemic change by encouraging access to safe, inclusive, and developmentally enriching play environments for children across the globe.

In support of this mission and to help mark International Day of Play, The Toy Association’s Toy Foundation is bringing 290,000 brand-new toys valued at $3 million to children in need around the world. From plush and dolls to educational playthings, action figures and building sets, these donations have been generously provided by 16 toy companies and will benefit children facing hospitalization, in low-income communities, and affected by natural or humanitarian disasters.

The Toy Association is also bringing the spirit of play directly to the halls of Congress. Yesterday, the First Annual Day of Play on Capitol Hill welcomed Members of Congress and their staff to a fun-filled afternoon that highlighted the critical role of play in childhood development. The event spotlighted The Genius of Play™, The Toy Association’s educational initiative that raises awareness about the cognitive, physical, emotional, creative, and social benefits of play for children.

Today, Toy Association member companies from across the country are participating in a full day of meetings on Capitol Hill, where toy industry leaders are engaging directly with federal lawmakers to strengthen the industry’s profile; reinforce the toy sector’s important role in the well-being of all children; and spotlight the U.S. toy industry’s impact on the economy. Discussions will also cover the impact of tariffs on Toy Association members and the entire toy industry. From family-owned toy stores to leading toy brands, the toy industry supports an estimated 661,809 American jobs, generating $41.7 billion in wages for workers in every state.

“The Toy Association and its Toy Foundation proudly represent an industry united by a shared belief: that play is essential to childhood,” said Greg Ahearn, president & CEO of The Toy Association.  “As we stand shoulder to shoulder with global allies, nonprofit partners, and our members, we are proud to lead with action, from championing smart policies in Washington to expanding every child’s access to play through The Toy Foundation’s philanthropic work. International Day of Play amplifies that mission on a global scale, and as an industry, we are answering that call with unity and purpose.”

About The Toy Association™  toyassociation.org / toyfoundation.org / peopleofplay.com / thegeniusofplay.org / playsafe.org

Founded in 1916, The Toy Association^™, Inc. is the business 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 $155.7 billion, and its roughly 900 members drive the annual $42 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. 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, governments, consumers, and the industry on ongoing programs to ensure safe and fun play.    

As a global leader, The Toy Association produces the world-renowned Toy Fair^™ in New York City; hosts marketplace activities in Los Angeles; engages in state, federal, and international advocacy on behalf of its members; supports the inventor and design community through People of Play™ and its numerous assets and events, including the consumer-facing Chicago Toy & Game Fair; 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. The Toy Association’s philanthropic arm is The Toy Foundation^™, a 501 (c)(3) children’s charity that acts as the uniting force for the collective philanthropy of the toy industry. To date, The Toy Foundation has delivered the joy of play to 33 million children in need worldwide.

About The Toy Foundation^™ toyfoundation.org
The Toy Foundation (TTF) is a 501 (c)(3) children’s charity and philanthropic arm of The Toy Association. The uniting force for the collective philanthropy of the toy industry for the benefit of all children in need, TTF works with small, medium, and large companies to create a world where every child experiences the comfort, joy, and extraordinary physical, emotional, and educational benefits of play. Thanks to the toy industry’s support, TTF has delivered play to 35 million children in need around the world.

SOURCE The Toy Association