New Year, New Smiles: Children's Toy Fund, Inc 2026 Quarter 1 Impact Report

5 days ago
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'26 QUARTER 1 IMPACT REPORT

2026 started off with more than 2k smiles! With the support of our community, partners, and charitable gaming patrons, we donated 2,187 toys in 12 deliveries to organizations aiding children facing illness or crisis throughout Northeast Ohio. The following information in this report aren't just numbers, they are an example of how real people are coming together to make a lasting impact on those who need fun and comfort the most.

LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR

During the first quarter, we donated 2,187 toys in 12 deliveries throughout Northeast Ohio organizations. The first part of the year tends to be a little bit quieter as most places we donate to are still fully stocked from our Christmas deliveries.

Our team uses the slower pace to plan for the upcoming year, research for events, and source from manufacturers. Some of our favorite research involves scouring the brand new toy catalogs that come out during the first quarter. The coolest new stuffed animals show up in our vendor catalogs that our team cannot wait to see!

As we look forward to the year ahead, we cannot wait to see what else it may hold! Already on the calendar are service projects with local youth, our fourth Be A Friend Program, and the Stark County Exceptional Olympics alongside our amazing Perry Police.

— Ashley Natale, Executive Director

TOYS DONATED

By Month

The start of the year is usually slow as some organizations still have a stock of toys from Christmas. We donated 270 toys in January, 398 in February, and started to ramp up in March with 1,519 toys!

By Category

Some of our partners request specific toys to best aid the children they are assisting. We also like to keep up with popular toys and items that are in high demand. This quarter, the most donated items included Sensory (such as fidget toys), Crafts, Stuffed Animals, Balls, Figures & Dolls (like Barbie and Superheroes), Vehicles, and Character Plush (Bluey, Mickey Mouse & Minnie Mouse, Peppa Pig, etc.).

By Location

We donate to a wide variety of hospitals, foster care agencies, Wish organizations, fire departments, and more. This quarter we donated to 7 different types of organizations, but at multiple locations! For example, we donated to our friends at Aultman Hospital in Canton, Massillon, Alliance, Orrville, and multiple of their urgent care locations.

SERVICE PROJECTS

This quarter we completed one service project alongside The Shelly Company! Seven of their staff took time to create seven tie blankets and bundle them together with stuffed animals, popper toys, and motivational cards. They were super excited to get involved and look forward to doing it again next year!

These bundles, along with 33 others (tie blankets made after the holiday donations last year) are going to Pathway Caring for Children, Caring for Kids, and Project KARE during the second quarter of 2026.

Get Involved

Did you know we come alongside organizations and groups with all the supplies necessary to create bundles? On our own we cannot create enough blankets to fulfill the need experienced in the community. But together we can make a difference in the lives of youth.

CHARITABLE GAMING

This past quarter we saw 5,023 players across 36 sessions. That's an average of 140 players per night! Thank you to our amazing patrons who come out and have fun with us while supporting our mission.

We would also like to thank those who participated in our second annual Get Your Green On event. We welcomed 282 patrons to the event—and we were so excited to see how many of you dressed in green with us!

We appreciate the opportunity and privilege to create a community space for each of you. We are grateful for each and every one of you that support us throughout the year. Win or lose, we hope you enjoy your evening out.

WORKSHOP OF WISHES

Our friends at Workshop of Wishes (formerly A Special Wish NEO) requested fun items for their Easter event at their local Winking Lizard for wish families. Our team carefully ordered several samples of toys to find the best fit. We ended up choosing giant Easter eggs filled with mini cars, TY beanie bouncer balls, fidget poppers, and sticker books!

To our friends at Workshop of Wishes, we are thankful for the amazing work you do for all of the youth facing difficulties. You bring so many smiles in the midst of what they are experiencing. It is our pleasure to come alongside you to amplify your efforts!

LOOKING FORWARD

As we head into spring, we are most excited for the Stark County Exceptional Olympics and our Be A Friend Program. Both events allow our team to directly see the smiles, laughter, and joy associated with our efforts in sourcing, donating, and planning. Further on the horizon are multiple large scale service projects alongside local youth, which are always a highlight of our year!

Get Involved

We invite you to join us in making a difference. Whether volunteering your time, contributing to our initiatives, or participating in our events, your involvement is invaluable.

Consider becoming a donor or volunteer, engaging in a service project with us, or attending one of our bingo nights. Together, we can bring more smiles and hope to children in our community!