The holiday season is upon us, and as Santa prepares to make his annual flight around the world, some “elves” from Mattel are wrapping up a giving mission of their own.
This year, The Mattel Children’s Foundation, which has to date supported more than 150 nonprofits globally, donated more than 200,000 toys — estimated to be worth more than $2 million at retail — to more than 100,000 kids and families in North America. In the U.S., more than 300 Mattel employee volunteers gave back to their communities by working more than 2,000 hours on special projects.
“Every year, the impact we’re able to make at The Mattel Children’s Foundation gets bigger,” says Nancy Molenda, Executive Director of the Mattel Children’s Foundation. “Our most valuable resources at Mattel are our people, their passion, and last but not least, our products. We’re honored to work alongside our nonprofit partners to deliver a little bit of magic to kids in need, both around the holidays and year-round.”
Earlier this month, Mattel continued its partnership with The First Responders Children’s Foundation (FRCF) as they teamed up with country music star Tyler Hubbard to deliver 2,000 toys to kids at Nashville’s Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Two years ago, Mattel and the FRCF first joined forces during the establishment of FRCF’s Toy Express — an initiative that routes more than 250,000 holiday toys to the kids of first responders and deserving kids in first responder communities.
But the spirit of giving wasn’t limited to the efforts in “Music City.”
The Mattel Children’s Foundation also sprung into action to support the Salvation Army‘s mission to deliver toys to Operation Santa Claus, an annual effort from the Alaska National Guard.
In partnership with the 176th Wing, Alaska National Guard, gifts from Mattel were flown to kids and families in the remote village of Nuiqsut, Alaska. Santa and Mrs. Claus left the reindeer at home as they joined personnel from the 176th Wing aboard the flight.
“As we head into the Christmas season, many families are facing some of life’s most difficult challenges and thanks to Mattel, thousands of parents won’t have to worry how they’ll provide toys for their kids this Christmas,” says Commissioner Doug Riley, CEO of The Salvation Army’s USA Western Territory. “Thank you, Mattel, for bringing smiles full of joy to children through your ongoing partnership with The Salvation Army!”
While much attention is given to the work that Mattel and others conduct during the holiday season, the need to serve and give back is a year-round affair.
Check out some of the most important partners served by The Mattel Children’s foundation in 2022 and the services that they provide:
- Save the Children: An organization that works to give kids a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn, and protection from harm.
- Feed the Children: Over the past 40 years, Feed the Children has grown into one of the world’s leading anti-hunger organizations.
- UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital is a world-class facility that cares for the physical and emotional well-being of kids ranging from newborns to young adults.
- Good+ Foundation works to dismantle multi-generational poverty by pairing tangible goods with innovative services for low-income fathers, mothers, and caregivers, creating an upward trajectory for the whole family.
- Baby2Baby provides kids living in poverty with diapers, clothing, and all the necessities that every child deserves.
- Starlight Children’s Foundation delivers happiness to seriously ill children and their families at more than 800 children’s hospitals and healthcare facilities in the U.S.
For more information on Mattel’s efforts to give back, including its Play It Forward initiative, visit the company’s philanthropy site.
