FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Adrienne Appell / Marisa Medina
  Toy Industry Association / Toy Industry Foundation
  646.520.4863 / 646.454.5581
  aappell@toyassociation.org / mmedina@toyindustryfoundation.org

CJ Products Donates Nearly $400,000 in Plush Toys to the Toy Industry Foundation’s Summer Toy Drive

New York, NY | June 19, 2012 – The Toy Industry Foundation (TIF), a nonprofit organization that brings joy, comfort, and learning to millions of children in need through toys and play, applauds the generosity of CJ Products for their recent donation of $399,800 in plush toys. The contribution was received during the Foundation’s 2012 Summer Toy Drive and will make play possible for 20,000 disadvantaged children in three states.

The “Pillow Pets” are being delivered through the The Toy Bank network via TIF partner Kids in Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S.) to 10 children’s charities in Colorado, Washington and California. The stuffed animals will put smiles on the faces of children facing poverty, chronic illness, homelessness, and other difficult circumstances.

“With a shared commitment to impact young lives, the Foundation is pleased to make play possible for children in need with CJ Products by our side,” said Jean Butler, TIF Executive Director.  “Their generous gift to the Toy Bank represents their caring spirit, and we are honored to have such a wonderful company on The Toy Bank team.”

“CJ Products, manufacturer of Pillow Pets products, is proud to support The Toy Bank in providing comfort to thousands of children in need,” said Jennifer Telfer, CEO of CJ Products.

For many of the children TIF serves, a new Pillow Pet from The Toy Bank is the only toy they will receive this year.  TIF thanks CJ Products for their continued partnership to improve the lives of children since 2009.
 
The Toy Bank, TIF’s signature program, is generously stocked by toy manufacturers, retailers and distributors to introduce the “tools” of play to children in need. Each year, hundreds of thousands of playthings are distributed to foster kids who have nothing of their own; sent to children living on U.S. military bases; and distributed through The Toy Bank’s network of 1,000 children’s charities across the nation and around the world.  The organization’s Summer Toy Drive continues through August 31st.

ABOUT TOY INDUSTRY FOUNDATION  www.toyindustryfoundation.org
The Toy Industry Foundation (TIF) brings joy, comfort and learning to children in need through play by donating toys and grant funding to worthy children’s charities. As the toy industry’s own foundation, TIF is generously supported by toy companies and individuals in the toy community who donate new toys to The Toy Bank – TIF’s signature program. Toys are distributed to national partners serving military families and foster children, as well as to local charities serving at-risk and disadvantaged children throughout the United States and around the world. In many cases, donations to The Toy Bank can be collected at no cost to the donor. For more information on how to get involved, visit toyindustryfoundation.org.