The TOMY Group is working diligently to become friends with children around the world in a bid to fulfill its sustainability vision. With this in mind, we engage in social contribution activities primarily at bases located in the U.S., the U.K., Europe, and Japan. Established by TOMY International and Fat Brain Toys (both companies drive the Group’s overseas business), the DEI Committee to promote Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The Committee has identified philanthropy & sponsorship and are engaged in social contribution activities as TOMY COMMUNITY and TEAM JACK FOUNDATION.
In this instance, we would like to share with you specific details of the kind of its activities undertaken together with what we are doing on the ground.
What is TOMY COMMUNITY?
TOMY COMMUNITY is an employee-led initiative that aims to support a variety of charitable organizations. Around 20-40 people from TOMY International’s each office in the U.S., the U.K., gather for each activity. While certain activities are conducted on a nationwide basis, others target the local community of an individual base. Through TOMY COMMUNITY, employees working toward the same goal are developing close-knit ties across team boundaries while engaging in local volunteer activities. It is our pleasure at TOMY COMMUNITY to bring smiles to people’s faces not only through our products, but also through social contribution activities.
TOMY International
Day of Service
The U.S. team focuses on 1-2 core learnings each month, with major philanthropic efforts occurring around the U.S. Holiday known as Martin Luther King Jr. Day*, otherwise known as a “Day of Service” in January. Most U.S. schools are off for the day, and everyone is encouraged to volunteer or give back to their communities. Each of our U.S. offices identified local charities to work with for our Day of Service.
*Around the time of his birthday, the third Monday in January is designated a holiday in the US to honor the life of Martin Luther King Jr. and his work in the American civil rights movement.
The US team has worked with the following 5 organizations:
Habitat for Humanity
Official Website
Team members cleaned out a house that was flooded so that repairs could be made for a new family to move in.
Room to Grow
Official Website
Team members checked donations for quality and cleanliness and sorted them into categories (clothes, toys, bedding, etc.) to help disadvantaged children and their families and they also unloaded donations that TOMY employees personally donated.
Sleep in Heavenly Peace
Official Website
Team members made blankets for children that may not have a warm bed to sleep in every night. The organization donates beds and blankets to those in need.
Ronald McDonald House Charities
Official Website
Team members prepared lunch and dinner for residents of the house - typically families whose children are being treated at the local hospital. The team prepared the meals, served them, made snacks, and also cleaned up.
Cradles to Crayons
Official Website
Team members sorted and organized clothing donations for helping disadvantaged children and their families.
Other Activities
In addition to the Day of Service, the US team also engages in activities with different themes set for each month. For example, June is PRIDE Month to support the LGBTQ+ community, and October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. As well as participating in local walks and runs, steps were taken to host “Pink Out Days” as a means to raise money for breast cancer. There are several other in-office activities that take place on a monthly basis as well, typically with some type of educational element to them. For instance, February is Black History Month – some offices are attending documentary screenings, while others are hosting trivia sessions to help educate employees on Black History.
Youth Project
Official Website
The Youth Project is a location in Sidmouth, Devon where young people can meet to play, to chat and to also get support from various support workers who are trained in helping children, often from difficult backgrounds. They offer multiple activities from craft, to sport but all under the guidance of volunteers and aid support workers.
16 members of the UK team took part over the 2 days. The team cleaned and prepared the inside of the building. They worked on the kitchen area, the toilets and the social spaces, cleaning walls, rubbing down old paint and generally clearing the areas. The team then painted the interior walls, giving the area a clean bright look and feel.
The Youth Project team that run the project were very welcoming and very grateful for our time and support, commenting that the refresh was a great boost for the centre.
Other activity
We had worked with the Food Bank in the same area in January of 2022 for our “day of service” activity and we also supported the children in the locality with Christmas gifts that some of the team wrapped and then delivered. We were approached by the Lead Youth Worker to ask if we would be able to help again but this time on the youth centre side.
Food Bank
Official Website
UK team comment
As this fits very well within the DEI framework and also in our mission to make children smile, it was the perfect fit for our team of willing volunteers this year. Following the success of last year and the very positive feedback in the office, we saw more people come forward to volunteer. We felt this was not only to “give back” to society but also to be part of a TOMY team activity that benefitted children in the local area.
Everyone that took part felt that they had helped the organization in their aim to give children a lovely fresh, safe, space in which to spend time. The team work aspect was felt by all, especially in these days of hybrid working when opportunities to get together as a group are less frequent.
What kind of organization is
TEAM JACK FOUNDATION
which Fat Brain Toys has
supported?
Fat Brain Toys
TEAM JACK FOUNDATION
TEAM JACK FOUNDATION was established to help children diagnosed with pediatric brain tumors and their families. In addition to supporting research through funds aimed at uncovering treatments for the disease, the Foundation is dedicated to raising awareness.
Fat Brain Toys supports the Foundation through employee volunteer activities and donations. At an event held in February each year, roughly 30 to 40 volunteers assist in set-up, registration, and silent auction activities as well as post-clean-up endeavors. Different activities are planned each year. There is a radiothon, a few road races and a wine event that we have helped with in the past. Many of these events happen on an annual basis but hoping to host an event in Omaha sometime this summer!
Fat Brain Toys will continue to support the Foundation in its mission to provide smarter ways to play and to bring out children’s innate abilities in verbal skills, visual acuity, sensory discernment and nurturing, and creativity.
Fat Brain Toys SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
Karen Carson
The treatments currently prescribed for children diagnosed with pediatric brain tumors are over 30 years old. The side effects associated with the drugs used in these treatments are extremely harsh. As a result, many children die from strokes and seizures attributable to these side effects as opposed to the brain tumors themselves. The TEAM JACK Foundation is funding research to protect children from these potentially cruel chemotherapy protocols with the hope that this will bring smiles to the faces of as many children as possible who are battling pediatric brain tumors. Through our endeavors, we are able to meet these children in person, and in certain cases see them as they tackle this disease. In volunteering to hold events, I am acutely aware of these children’s strong will to overcome their illness. Recognized as heroes, I realize the significance of our efforts and the change they bring about each time I see them smiling.
Here is TOMY Group
Social Contribution
Activities
As social contribution activities, we work closely with the local communities in each of
our offices, as well as conducting an online program for elementary school students
nationwide to think about the SDGs through TOMY's initiatives.
Click below to learn more.
Sustainability |
Corporate Citizenship
In Closing
In this instance, we provide details of certain volunteer activities, donations, and other social contribution activities that the TOMY Group is engaged in at its bases around the world. These activities not only bring smiles to the faces of those in need, but also give us many opportunities to smile ourselves. Moving forward, we will continue to engage in activities that help make friends with as many children around the world as possible.
US team comment
Giving back to our local communities allows us to live our mission of “making the world smile”. By giving back, we not only make others smile, but it is a good feeling to give back as well. It opens your eyes to what others may be going through, and in turn, affects how you see the world and how you can better contribute to it.