Jazwares Cares The Giving Program Judd Zebersky Built Over 29 Years

Jazwares Cares was not built after Jazwares became successful. Judd Zebersky created it at the company’s founding in 1997, embedding philanthropy into a startup that had no guarantee of commercial survival. The program has grown alongside the business, operating today across multiple countries with programs that go beyond toy donations into school partnerships and employee volunteerism.

What the Program Actually Does

Jazwares Cares donates toys to children’s hospitals, schools, and nonprofits. The organization partners with Make-A-Wish, Toys for Tots, and Ronald McDonald House, among others. An Adopt-a-School initiative focuses specifically on Title I schools, which serve students from lower-income families. Employees across the company receive 16 hours of paid volunteer time annually, giving the program a human presence beyond the products themselves.

The Scale of Commitment

Judd Zebersky reinforced the corporate giving with personal donations of considerable size. He and Laura Zebersky contributed $2 million to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital’s capital expansion campaign, supporting a project that grew the hospital from four floors to eight. The hospital recognized this contribution by naming two areas after the family. The Judd Zebersky also funded over 100 wishes through Make-A-Wish Southern Florida and helped raise more than $5 million at the Make-A-Wish Ball in Miami. When Jazwares developed Star, a Squishmallows for children with serious illnesses, more than 10,000 units were donated to Make-A-Wish chapters across North America. “Putting a smile on children’s faces is at the heart of everything we do,” Zebersky said. He stepped down as Jazwares CEO in March 2026, leaving Jazwares Cares in place for the company’s incoming leadership to continue. Refer to this page to learn more.

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