generationOn and Hasbro Launch the Joy Maker Challenge to Inspire Youth to Spread Kindness This Holiday Season
Hasbro will donate a toy or game to Toys for Tots for each kid or teen engaged in service through the month-long campaign, up to $1 million
NEW YORK, November 21, 2016 /3BL Media/ – generationOn, the youth service division of Points of Light, and Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) have partnered for the seventh annual Joy Maker Challenge, which encourages youth to engage in meaningful, hands-on service projects and spread joy and kindness through volunteerism during the holiday season. For every kid and teen who participates in the Joy Maker Challenge, Hasbro will donate a toy or game to Toys for Tots, up to $1 million worth.
Launching today and running through December 23, teens, teachers, parents and youth development professionals can register, find service project ideas, and share their stories of service on the Joy Maker Challenge website. The Joy Maker Challenge is a part of Hasbro’s ongoing BE FEARLESS BE KIND initiative, which inspires and empowers kids to have the empathy, compassion and courage to stand up for others and be inclusive throughout their lives.
generationOn has selected 100 Kindness Ambassadors, who will work to spread joy and kindness nationwide, and will be equipped with 100 Hasbro toys and games each to bring holiday joy to children in need through a range of projects like:
- Violet Humble of Spokane Valley, Washington, is hosting a party for children from local transition homes, foster homes and shelters who often are not included and do not get to attend parties. In addition to spending time together, playing games and enjoying food, she will be surprising them with gifts for attending, as well as goodie bags.
- Xolo Maridueña will host a service project with kids on Skid Row in Los Angeles. Children will come to a fun holiday event where they will write letters to residents of local senior centers. After completing the project, the kids will be able to pick out a wrapped toy to go home with.
- Renee Lynn Scott of Eastport, New York, will work with youth volunteers to make special cards for children of cancer patients. They will then work with Survivor’s Little Helper to deliver Christmas trees, toys and cards to families to help alleviate the emotional and financial burden holidays can have when parents are battling cancer.
“We are thrilled to partner with Hasbro for the seventh year of the Joy Maker Challenge and get more young people engaged in service,” said Delores Morton, executive director of generationOn. “Our goal is for youth to become more caring, compassionate and capable through service, which includes spreading joy during the holiday season as well as continuing to be involved throughout the year.”
Since the Joy Maker Challenge campaign started in 2010, nearly 865,000 total acts of service have been completed by youth worldwide, generating $6 million of toys and games donated to Toys for Tots by Hasbro.
“At Hasbro, we’re committed to making sure kids have access to opportunities to serve others, become more empathetic and show kindness to others,” said Karen Davis, senior vice president of global philanthropy and social impact at Hasbro. “We’re proud to team up with generationOn to host the Joy Maker Challenge and help kids and teens make their mark on the world by putting their empathy into action.”
To learn more about the Joy Maker Challenge, please visit generationOn.org/joymaker. You can also follow both @generationOn and @Hasbro on Twitter and search #JoyMaker or #BFBK to join the conversation online.
generationOn Contact:
Sarah Fanslau
Senior Director, Campaigns and Days of Service, generationOn
sfanslau@pointsoflight.org
Hasbro Contact:
Brandon Keough
Manager, Global Philanthropy & Social Impact, Hasbro
brandon.keough@hasbro.com
About GenerationOn
generationOn, the youth service division of Points of Light, provides programs and resources that support the development of caring, compassionate and capable kids and teens through service, empowering them to become changemakers in their communities and the world.
About Points of Light
Points of Light – the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service – inspires, equips and mobilizes millions of people to take action that is changing the world. Through affiliates in 250 cities across more than 30 countries and partnerships with thousands of nonprofits and corporations, Points of Light engages 4 million volunteers in 30 million hours of service each year. For more information, go to http://www.pointsoflight.org/.
About Hasbro, Inc.
Hasbro (NASDAQ: HAS) is a global play and entertainment company committed to Creating the World's Best Play Experiences. From toys and games to television, movies, digital gaming and consumer products, Hasbro offers a variety of ways for audiences to experience its iconic brands, including NERF, MY LITTLE PONY, TRANSFORMERS, PLAY-DOH, MONOPOLY, LITTLEST PET SHOP and MAGIC: THE GATHERING, as well as premier partner brands. The Company's Hasbro Studios and its film label, Allspark Pictures, are building its brands globally through great storytelling and content on all screens. Through its commitment to corporate social responsibility and philanthropy, Hasbro is helping to make the world a better place for children and their families. Learn more at www.hasbro.com, and follow us on Twitter (@Hasbro & @HasbroNews) and Instagram (@Hasbro).
