John Mellencamp Headlined The Toys R Us Children's Fund Gala
Among the Largest Single-Night Fundraising Events in New York City, the
Annual Benefit has Generated More Than $100 Million Since its 1985 Inaugural
Gala
WAYNE, NJ (May 17, 2013) – More than 1,200 leaders and influencers from the
toy and juvenile products industries gathered last night at the Marriott Marquis
Hotel in New York City to celebrate the 2013 Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund Gala.
During this special evening of entertainment and fundraising, more than $4.5
million was raised for the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund, a public charity
affiliated with Toys“R”Us, Inc., to aid in its mission to keep children safe and
help them in times of need. The star-studded gathering drew support from guests
and was hosted by Emmy®and Tony Award®-winning comedian Martin Short. The
evening’s entertainment included an unforgettable performance by award-winning
rock musician John Mellencamp, who is widely known for his philanthropic work,
including co-founding Farm Aid, an organization that supports family farmers.
“The Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund Gala is a celebration of the love the toy and
juvenile products industries have for all kids. It also serves to showcase the
Fund’s most significant efforts in charitable giving over the past year and its
ongoing commitment to keep kids safe and help them in times of need. Children
are the heart of our brand and our many philanthropic initiatives to support
them is a source of great pride for the “R”Us organization,” said Kathleen
Waugh, Chairman of the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund.
The evening featured a special opportunity for guests to help the thousands
of individuals and families whose lives were impacted by Superstorm Sandy
through the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund (HSNJRF). To date, the HSNJRF
created by Governor Chris Christie and First Lady Mary Pat Christie has raised
$34 million against the estimated $37 billion in damage to New Jersey. Gala
attendees rallied to contribute thousands of dollars to this cause, which will
provide housing assistance to displaced families, social and counseling services
to those affected and economic development support to the communities impacted,
among many other programs. In attendance was New Jersey’s First Lady, Mary Pat
Christie, who spoke passionately about the HSNJRF and thanked attendees for
their donations.
Based in New Jersey, Toys“R”Us, Inc. employs more than 4,200 team members
throughout the state. As a result, this ongoing crisis is very personal to the
“R”Us family. In the wake of the superstorm, the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund made
a $1 million donation to the HSNJRF to help provide relief and support
rebuilding efforts.
Below are highlights of some of the company’s key philanthropic initiatives
from the past year:
Taking a “Stand” for Childhood Cancer
In 2012, Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund reaffirmed its commitment to Alex’s Lemonade
Stand Foundation (ALSF), an organization dedicated to helping find a cure for
childhood cancer, providing a $100,000 grant through the Toys“R”Us Children’s
Fund. What started as a front yard lemonade stand hosted by 4-year-old Alexandra
“Alex” Scott, who was diagnosed with cancer just before her first birthday, has
turned into a national effort continued today by children and families holding
lemonade stands across the country. The company’s second consecutive in-store
and online fundraising campaign raised more than $1.9 million in 2012 and helped
teach the importance of giving back by encouraging children to host their own
official Alex’s Lemonade Stands. Since the partnership began in 2011, donations
from customers, Toys“R”Us, Inc. and the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund together have
provided more than $3.9 million to the organization.
Granting Wishes, One Child at a Time
This past year, the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund and Toys“R”Us, Inc. provided
Make-A-Wish with $500,000 in grant funding and gift cards. A visit to Toys“R”Us
is a top request for many “wish children” who are facing life-threatening
medical conditions, and throughout the year, Toys“R”Us stores nationwide created
numerous celebratory events during special shopping trips. Over the past 16
years, the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund and Toys“R”Us, Inc. have supported
Make-A-Wish with more than $2.3 million to help make wishes come true.
Shaq-A-Claus Spreading Holiday Cheer
The Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund and Toys“R”Us, Inc. teamed up for the fourth
consecutive year with NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal to help Toys for Tots bring
toys and smiles to America’s neediest children. The 2012 “Give Back With Shaq”
in-store and online fundraising campaign raised $4 million, and nearly 350,000
toys were collected. The Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund also provided a $250,000
grant to Toys for Tots to kick off the program. As the largest retail partner in
the history of the organization, more than $31.6 million and 3.75 million toys
have been collected throughout the nine-year partnership. In addition, grants
totaling more than $5 million have been awarded to the Marine Toys for Tots
Foundation from the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund.
Hosting Joyful Baby Showers for Military Moms-to-Be
In 2012, the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund and Babies“R”Us joined forces with
Operation Shower, an organization that hosts joyful baby showers for military
wives to ease the stress of their husbands’ deployment, to co-host baby shower
events nationwide. The organization ensures these women receive some of the
basic essentials they need for their newborns. Operation Shower began with a
simple act of kindness when one woman sent a “shower in a box” to a few
expectant wives whose husbands were deployed. After the first large-scale shower
was organized at Fort Bragg, N.C. in June 2007, Operation Shower was officially
born. Since then, the organization has helped more than 1,300 military moms
through hard work and generous donations. Showers are held on bases across the
country for all branches of the armed forces – Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines
and National Guard. To kick off the partnership, the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund
donated $100,000 to Operation Shower so they may purchase gifts for these moms,
as well as to help host festive occasions to celebrate their new arrivals.
Supporting the Special Needs Community
Toys“R”Us, Inc. and the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund have a long history of
supporting the special needs community through the Toys“R”Us Toy Guide for
Differently-Abled Kids. In collaboration with the National Lekotek Center, a
nonprofit organization dedicated to making play accessible for children of all
abilities, this valuable resource is released annually, providing qualified toy
recommendations to aid in the skill development of children who have physical,
cognitive or developmental disabilities. Mom, TV Host, Best Buddies Board Member
and Philanthropist Nancy O’Dell graced the cover and lent her support to the
2012 Guide. Additionally, the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund provides ongoing grants
to many leading special needs organizations, including Autism Speaks, Muscular
Dystrophy Association, National Down Syndrome Society and Special Olympics,
among others.
About the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund
The Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund is a public charity affiliated with
Toys“R”Us, Inc., a company that unabashedly declares “We love kids!” The core
mission of the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund is to keep children safe and help them
in times of need. Since it was founded in 1992, the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund
has contributed millions of dollars to qualified organizations that support that
mission, including those providing disaster relief to children and families who
are victims of large-scale crises. The Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund also provides
grants to leading organizations that assist children with special needs.
Primary fundraising activities include the annual Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund
Gala, a private, invitation-only event that showcases the work of the Toys“R”Us
Children’s Fund and raises money to support its many beneficiaries. This annual
benefit has raised more than $100 million since its inception in 1985 and is one
of the largest single-night fundraising events held in New York City.
