Charitable Giving
The core philanthropic mission of Toys“R”Us, Inc. and the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund is to keep children safe and help them in times of need.
You can learn more about our mission, the scope of our charitable giving and our national partnerships by visiting the links on the left.
Toys“R”Us Responds in the Aftermath of the Oklahoma Tornado
The Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund made a $100,000 donation to Save the Children to provide immediate and longer-term recovery programs for communities in Moore, Oklahoma following the devastating tornado that struck the area. To provide urgent assistance, Toys“R”Us, Inc. also provided local product donations to help children impacted. The company is also encouraging its customers to join in helping the littlest victims of this disaster by donating items through the official Save the Children registry at www.Babiesrus.com/SavetheChildren. As a national leader in child-focused disaster response and recovery programs, Save the Children deployed Child Friendly Space kits in shelters, creating safe play areas for kids impacted by the tornado, and provided infant and toddler hygiene materials to support the well-being of young children. Its efforts will also include a review of the impact on child care centers, long term psycho-social support programs and assessing the status of local summer programs for children which may have been affected due to destruction of facilities and supplies.
$4.5 Million Raised at Annual Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund Gala
Emmy and Tony Award-winning comedian Martin Short and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee John Mellencamp helped raise more than $4.5 million for the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund at the charity’s annual gala, held on May 16 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. The evening also featured a special opportunity for guests to help the thousands of individuals and families whose lives were impacted by Superstorm Sandy by making a donation to the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund. The Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund, a public charity affiliated with Toys“R”Us, Inc., is dedicated to keeping kids safe and helping them in times of need. Since it was founded in 1992, the Fund has contributed millions of dollars annually to various children’s organizations, including those providing disaster relief to children and families who are victims of large-scale crises. The Fund also provides grants to leading organizations that support children with special needs. To date, the Fund’s annual event has raised more than $100 million to support its many beneficiaries.
Babies“R”Us To Host More Baby Showers for America’s Military Moms
Last year, Babies“R”Us showered nearly 200 military moms-to-be with thousands of donated must-have items to help them prepare for their little ones through its partnership with Operation Shower. This organization hosts joyful baby showers for military wives as they experience the journey of pregnancy while their husbands are deployed. The company recently announced that it will continue its commitment to honor families of the United States armed forces with a $100,000 grant from the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund. Over the next year, Babies“R”Us will co-host events benefiting families across the country from all branches of military, including Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and National Guard. Military moms-to-be will experience all the joy associated with a traditional baby shower, including themed décor, exciting prizes, and a variety of presents – from Babies“R”Us gift cards to essential baby gear. Babies“R”Us customers, as well as local businesses and organizations, can also donate products by purchasing items from the official Operation Shower baby registry, which can be accessed through Babiesrus.com/OperationShower. To date, hundreds of products have been donated as a result of the registry. All items purchased off of the organization’s official Babies“R”Us Registry are shipped directly to Operation Shower and used as gifts for expectant moms at upcoming showers.
“Shine A Light For Autism” Campaign Raises More Than $2 Million
Toys“R”Us, Inc.’s 2013 “Shine A Light For Autism” campaign raised more than $1.3 million in the United States during Autism Awareness Month in April. One hundred percent of these funds will be dedicated to supporting the Autism Speaks Community Grants program, which assists community-based organizations expand existing programs and create new ones that demonstrate innovation in providing services to improve and enrich the lives of individuals with autism. An additional $765,000 was raised to support the work of Autism Speaks in Canada. Beyond Autism Awareness Month, Toys“R”Us, Babies“R”Us and the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund together serve as national sponsors of Walk Now for Autism Speaks, Autism Speaks’ signature fundraising and awareness events taking place in more than 95 cities and communities across North America. People across the country can still sign up to “Walk With Geoffrey” online at WalkNowForAutismSpeaks.org/Geoffrey. Supporters who may not live near an official event can still walk virtually alongside the company’s iconic mascot Geoffrey the Giraffe to raise funds for Autism Speaks.
Toys“R”Us Supports Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts
The Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund made a $1 million donation to the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund, created by New Jersey’s Governor Chris Christie and First Lady Mary Pat Christie to aid, comfort and rebuild the Garden State in the wake of the devastation that impacted so many children and families. Toys“R”Us, Inc. has been based in New Jersey for 38 years and today has more than 4,000 employees statewide across 45 stores, regional offices, its corporate headquarters and the company’s largest retail distribution center in the country. The Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund also made a $500,000 donation immediately following Sandy to Save the Children, a global humanitarian organization, which helped support children and families in evacuation shelters. These funds also helped the organization distribute much-needed items, including hygiene kits, diapers, and baby wipes.
Toys “R”Us Partners with Nancy O’Dell on the Toys“R”Us Toy Guide For Differently-Abled Kids
Toys“R”Us, Inc. is proud to partner with mom, TV host and philanthropist Nancy O’Dell, who appears on the cover of the latest edition of the Toys“R”Us Toy Guide for Differently-Abled Kids alongside Saskia Vogt, a 4-year-old girl with Down syndrome. For nearly two decades, the Guide has served as a trusted resource for family, friends and caregivers of children with special needs, providing a carefully chosen assortment of toys that can help kids explore new worlds and achieve personal victories. Toys have been selected in partnership with National Lekotek Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to making play accessible to children of all abilities. Nancy O’Dell has long served as an advocate for those affected by physical, cognitive and emotional challenges through her involvement in charitable organizations like Best Buddies, Muscular Dystrophy Association and National Down Syndrome Society. Now, with the launch of the latest edition of the Guide, O’Dell has yet another avenue through which she is able to support differently-abled individuals. This complimentary guide is available in Toys“R”Us and Babies“R”Us stores nationwide and online, in both English and Spanish, at Toysrus.com/DifferentlyAbled.
Toys“R”Us Pledges $1 million to 2014 Special Olympics USA Games
The Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund has pledged $1 million to become the first Founding Partner of the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games. Toys“R”Us will be the Presenting Sponsor of the first Young Athletes™ Festival, a unique event that will debut at the Games in June 2014. The Festival will provide opportunities for children ages 2-7 and their families to take part in the Special Olympics Young Athletes program, Healthy Athletes® activities and family seminars geared toward the future stars of Special Olympics. More than 3,500 Special Olympics athletes from all 50 states and the District of Columbia will compete in 17 sports. An estimated 10,000 volunteers, as well as 50,000 additional spectators will be in attendance.