Toys, Kindness & Community in Action: Children's Toy Fund, Inc 2026 Quarter 2 Impact Report
- 4 days ago
- 6 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
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The second quarter of 2026 brought more than 3k smiles! With the support of our community, partners, and charitable gaming patrons, we donated 3,419 toys in 17 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.
A Message from Our Director
"During the second quarter, Children’s Toy Fund, Inc. pivoted to include large scale collaborations within the community in addition to all our normal toy donations.
In May, alongside our amazing Perry Police Officers, we distributed 899 stuffed animals to athletes at the Stark County Exceptional Olympics.
Later in June, our Be A Friend Program ran for the fourth consecutive year. The program grew, inviting 150 foster and kinship youth from Stark County JFS / Project KARE to participate in programming alongside the Pro Football Hall of Fame Youth Department and Build-A-Bear Workshop. In all, 12 businesses and groups plus 9 corporate sponsors joined us in creating a memorable day for all involved.
This quarter, we donated 6,419 toys across seven locations in Northeast Ohio. We are truly grateful for every connection and partnership we have to help spread smiles to kids who need it most."
Ashley Natale
Executive Director
Toys That Bring Hope, Comfort, Fun, & Smiles
By Month
Quarter 2 had 12 deliveries with 3,602 toys donated in April, 1,452 in May, and 1,365 in June. That's 3,419 toys that brought smiles to children facing hardship throughout Northeast Ohio!
Where Our Toys Went
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, Alliance, Orrville, and multiple of their urgent care locations.
What We Gave
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 Stuffed Animals (26.5%), Crafts (14.8%), Figures & Dolls (such as Barbie and Superheroes, 12.3%), Sensory/Fidget Toys (9.2%), Balls (8.1%), Outdoor Play (7.1%), Card & Boardgames (6.3%), and many more!
Community in Action: Service Projects That Make a Difference
We had two groups come alongside us to help our Comfort Bundles Initiative, making tie blankets and bundling them up with a stuffed animal, popper toy (or teether for young ones), and a motivational card for children entering foster care. Lake Center Christian School created 6 tie blankets and 4 unique baby tie blankets that we later bundled. Project REBUILD came to our facility to build 10 tie blankets and 10 bundles. Thank you to these amazing groups for sharing your time and talents! These will bring comfort and smiles to children during a scary and uncertain time in their lives.
Get Involved
Did you know we come alongside organizations and groups? 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.
Start the conversation and make a lasting impact!
Charitable Gaming: Fun That Gives Back
Across 35 sessions from April to June we saw 4,484 players. That's an average of 128 patrons per night!
Thank you to our amazing patrons who come out and support us each night. Your support makes all the difference in enabling us to bring smiles, hope, and comfort to children facing difficulties across Northeast Ohio.
Workshop of Wishes: Bringing Smiles Through Special Moments
Workshop of Wishes (WOW) is another 501(c)(3) organization that grants wishes to youth facing life-threatening illness. This past June, they reached out requesting assistance with filling their toy shelves to allow families to come search for the perfect gift for their child on their birthday. We sent 153 toys to meet the request.
It is our hope that this helps take a little bit of the burden off the families, while bringing smiles into hard situations being experienced.
Stark County Exceptional Olympics: Celebrating Every Athlete
This marked our third year coming alongside our local Perry Police Department to provide and help distribute brand new, high quality stuffed animals to the athletes of the Stark County Exceptional Olympics.
This event has become one that we look forward to all year. We love having the opportunity to see all the hugs, smiles, and giggles as the youth select their new furry animal friends and play in the police cruisers.
This year student athletes picked from 899 stuffed animals and we handed out 305 stress balls that added to the fun.
We are grateful for the continued invitation to help alongside our local police department. It is our honor and pleasure to help our community in such an incredible way!
Be A Friend Program: Empowering the Next Generation of World Changers
The Be A Friend Program was created to empower youth within our partner organizations to experience the joy of giving firsthand. Each participant creates two stuffed-animal friends—one to keep and one to give to a child facing a difficult situation.
Because sometimes, a child needs more than a toy. They need to know they matter, they are capable, and they can make a difference.
2026 marked our fourth year of running this program. We invited 150 foster and kinship youth from Project KARE to Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium for a day filled with friendship, fun, encouragement, and purpose.
More Than a Service Project
Be A Friend was designed to be more than a service project. It was a day for kids to play, laugh, try something new, and simply enjoy being kids.
The event included football drills and field activities with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Youth Department, mascots, food, games, bubbles, and plenty of opportunities for encouragement and connection.
For some children, the highlight was building their bear. For others, it was running onto the stadium field or trying something they weren't sure they could do.
And that's the beauty of Be A Friend. There's a moment for every child.
Becoming a World Changer
A special addition to the 2026 program was our World Changer Medal.
After donating their second bear, each participant received a medal with “World Changer” inscribed on the back.
We wanted the children to have something tangible to remind them that they are capable of making a difference through simple acts of kindness.
And watching their faces as they received those medals was unforgettable.
The medal wasn't really about the award. It was about the message: You have something to give. Your kindness matters. You can change the world.
From One Child to Another: The Delivery
One of the most meaningful parts of 2026 was getting to see the story come full circle.
After watching the youth create their bears, we later had the opportunity to deliver them to Akron Children's Hospital and see some of those bears placed directly into the hands of patients.
There is something incredibly powerful about seeing a child receive a gift that another child intentionally made for them.
A toy can bring comfort. But knowing another kid made it just for you creates an entirely different kind of connection.
Kids Changing the World Through Kindness
Take a look at the full impact in our "Be A Friend Program '26 Recap" on YouTube.
It Takes a Village
The Be A Friend Program is possible because a community believes in the power of young people.
We are incredibly grateful to our 2026 sponsors, volunteers, community partners, families, and everyone who helped bring this experience to life.
And to every child and family who participated: thank you for showing us what it means to be a World Changer. Your kindness is the heart of this program, and your impact reaches further than you may ever know.
Partners
Community Affiliates
Sponsors
HERO SPONSOR
CHAMPION SPONSORS
FRIEND SPONSORS
Help Us Create More World Changers
This event is rooted in community. From planning to execution, every detail came together through the shared efforts of incredible partners. It’s a dream far bigger than just us, and we’re deeply grateful to everyone who helped make it real.
If you or your business would like to help grow the impact of this program, we’re currently seeking sponsors and community partners for 2027. We’d love to connect!
Looking Forward: What's Next for Children's Toy Fund, Inc
As we head into fall, we are already beginning to think about the upcoming Christmas season. While continuing our usual deliveries with our partners, we will also begin preparations the busy season that is just ahead of us.
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!
Stay Connected
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ctfinc
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ctfbearfeed
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