International Day of Play 2026 is off to a great start. Thanks to generous donations from toy companies around the world, The Toy Foundation collected a record-breaking $5.7 million in toys for its Toy Chest program — enough to bring joy to more than 450,000 families in need.
Celebrated globally on June 11, International Day of Play champions every child’s right to play and its powerful role in development, well-being, and education. This year, The Toy Foundation adopted the theme “Protect Play, Protect Childhood” to underscore the urgency of creating safe, inclusive, and accessible play experiences for kids worldwide.
More than 20 companies participated in this year’s drive, including industry leaders like Amazon, Hasbro, Mattel, Spin Master, The LEGO Group, Just Play, Jazwares, Playmobil, and The Pokémon Co. International. Collections smashed the 2025 record, a 90% increase from last year, and the donated toys and games will be distributed globally to more than 450,000 kids in under-resourced communities, schools, and hospitals throughout the year.
Families can donate to The Toy Foundation at more than 400 Chuck E. Cheese locations throughout June. | Source: CEC Entertainment
The Toy Foundation is partnering with the Build-A-Bear Foundation. | Source: Build-A-Bear Foundation
The celebration continues all month long with fundraising campaigns at Chuck E. Cheese. Until June 30, visitors can donate to The Toy Foundation at more than 400 locations in exchange for prizes, such as 500 tickets or a limited-edition Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty. In addition, Build-A-Bear Workshop is hosting an in-store and online fundraiser from June 8-14, with 100% of donations going toward The Toy Foundation and its mission.
“The Toy Foundation and its partners are answering the UN’s call to protect every child’s right to play by facilitating industry-wide philanthropy and consumer engagement,” said Pam Mastrota, Executive Director of The Toy Foundation. “We are incredibly grateful to every company that is partnering with us this International Day of Play, including our Toy Chest donors, Chuck E. Cheese, and Build-A-Bear Foundation. Thanks to their support, we are one step closer to creating a world where every child has access to play, no matter their circumstances.”
To learn more about The Toy Foundation and its industry-wide impact, visit toyfoundation.org.
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