generationOn and Hasbro Celebrate More Than 128,000 Kids and Teens Bringing Joy to Their Communities This Holiday Season
$1 Million in Toys and Games Donated to Toys for Tots through Holiday Service
New York, Dec. 19, 2014 /3BL Media/ – Today marks the completion of the 5th annual, record-breaking Joy Maker Challenge, a month-long effort that turns acts of youth service into donations of toys and games to Toys for Tots. The campaign is organized by generationOn, the youth service division of Points of Light, with the generous support of Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS).
More than 128,000 youth volunteers in grades K-12 have been mobilized in service projects across the country since the campaign launched in November. The Joy Maker Challenge united students across schools in communities such as Richmond, VA, where Bon Air and Crestwood Elementary Schools made holiday crafts to share with patients in hospice care. Kids from the Boys and Girls Club of North San Luis Obispo County, CA, rallied the support of local businesses and partnered with Loaves and Fishes to feed the hungry and homeless through a community food drive. The student body and staff at Tanglewood Elementary School in Fort Worth, TX, rallied to support two classmates who lost their home and possessions in a fire by collecting gift cards, funds, clothing and even a Christmas tree through their acts of joy.
Inspired by so many youth volunteers, Hasbro is donating a toy or game to Toys for Tots, totaling one million dollars’ worth since more than 100,000 students engaged in the Joy Maker Challenge. Further, 20 participating schools will be randomly selected to receive a $250 grant to support continued youth service in their community. The randomly selected, grand prize-winning school, South Range Elementary in Derry, NH, is receiving $10,000 worth of toys and games that they donated to the Salvation Army in Derry, a $1,000 grant to support the school’s engagement in volunteer programming, and a special celebration party to be hosted in January.
Among the 100 Joy Ambassadors who each distributed 100 toys and games donated by Hasbro to charities of their choice in communities across the country were some of generationOn’s celebrity youth ambassadors. Actor Xolo Mariduena brought together his leadership classmates and fellow cast members from NBC’s “Parenthood” for an event in Los Angeles at El Centro del Pueblo, where they distributed toys and games to more than 1,200 local families. Sabrina Carpenter and Peyton Meyer from the show “Girl Meets World” also joined the Joy Maker Challenge and surprised kids at an elementary school in LA where they delivered holiday gifts to the students.
With its mission to inspire, equip, and mobilize a nationwide network of youth volunteers this holiday season, generationOn is dedicated to providing youth, families, schools and youth-serving organizations with easy and meaningful ways to give back to their communities. “We’re thrilled to have partnered with Hasbro to inspire and call so many youth to action this holiday season through the Joy Maker Challenge,” said generationOn Executive Director Daniel Horgan. “From simple acts of joy to large-scale service projects, these youth volunteers are making their mark on the world.”
“The stories of youth in action from around the globe were remarkable,” said Karen Davis, SVP of Global Philanthropy & Social Impact at Hasbro, Inc. “The inspiration from these young leaders brings the joy of the holiday season to life, and we are thrilled to donate one million dollars’ worth of toys and games to Toys for Tots as a result of the great acts of service completed in this year’s Joy Maker Challenge.”
To read inspiring stories of youth engaged in service through the Joy Maker Challenge, visit www.generationOn.org/joymaker.
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generationOn
generationOn is the youth service division of Points of Light, igniting the power of kids and teens to make their mark on the world. generationOn inspires, equips and mobilizes hundreds of thousands of kids and teens annually to take action through service, service learning and youth leadership initiatives. It also provides tools and resources to kids, teens, families, youth practitioners and educators to help kids change the world and themselves through service. For more information, visit www.generationon.org.
Points of Light
Points of Light - the largest organization in the world dedicated to volunteer service - mobilizes millions of people to take action that is changing the world. Through affiliates in 250 cities and partnerships with thousands of nonprofits and corporations, Points of Light engages more than 4 million volunteers in 30 million hours of service each year. We bring the power of people to bear where it matters most. For more information, go to www.pointsoflight.org.
About Hasbro, Inc.
Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) is a branded play company dedicated to fulfilling the fundamental need for play for children and families through the creative expression of the Company's world class brand portfolio, including TRANSFORMERS, MONOPOLY, PLAY-DOH, MY LITTLE PONY, MAGIC: THE GATHERING, NERF and LITTLEST PET SHOP. From toys and games, to television programming, motion pictures, digital gaming and a comprehensive licensing program, Hasbro strives to delight its global customers with innovative play and entertainment experiences, in a variety of forms and formats, anytime and anywhere. The Company’s Hasbro Studios is responsible for entertainment brand-driven storytelling around Hasbro brands across television, film, commercial productions and short-form. Through the company's deep commitment to corporate social responsibility, including philanthropy, Hasbro is helping to build a safe and sustainable world for future generations and to positively impact the lives of millions of children and families every year. It has been recognized for its efforts by being named one of the "World's Most Ethical Companies®" and is ranked as one of Corporate Responsibility Magazine's "100 Best Corporate Citizens." Learn more at www.hasbro.com.© 2014 Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
CONTACT: Sarah Fanslau, generationOn; (917) 746-8164; sfanslau@pointsoflight.org
Leigh Lehman, Current; (310) 967-3409; llehman@talktocurrent.com
