President's Letter – May 2009

Toy Industry Stuff-A-Thon to Combine Philanthropy with California Advocacy

Our Toy Industry Foundation (TIF) has formed a wonderful partnership with the My Stuff Bags Foundation to provide duffels filled with new belongings to children in crisis who often enter shelters and foster care with nothing of their own.  The toys and financial support provided by TIF to the My Stuff Bags Foundation have provided comfort to thousands of children. 

On Tuesday, May 19, we have a golden opportunity for small, medium and large TIA member companies to chip in their time and effort on behalf of abused, abandoned and neglected children.  On that day, TIA and the My Stuff Bags Foundation will host the Do Good Stuff-A-Thon in Westlake Village, CA to stuff thousands of duffle bags with toys and other comforts for distribution to children in need.  Already, we have volunteers from many of our most prominent toy companies, including Mattel, JAKKS Pacific, and Funrise, but we need more stuffers to get the job done!

Not only is this a chance for you to help children and share a worthwhile effort with colleagues in the toy industry, the event will be attended by several C alifornia legislators and the media.  This is a great opportunity for our industry to demonstrate to local media and politicians how toy companies truly care for children.  And since California is a top priority state when it comes to toy legislation, this is the time for the industry to shine.  
 
We need more volunteers for this important event, and I hope you will help.  To register as a Do Good Stuffer, or for more information, please contact Foundation Manager Amanda McDorman (tel: 646.520.4878).

Regards to all,

Carter Keithley
TIA President