Toys “R” Us makes big difference for Special Olympics

When the Special Olympics get underway in late July in Los Angeles, a major awareness effort and hefty donation from Toys “R” Us will make a powerful contribution.

The retailer spent the past two months executing a broad-based campaign in stores and online to benefit the Special Olympics, which raised more than $4 million as well as awareness of an event in which roughly 7,000 athletes will participate.

“We could not be more pleased with the outpouring of support by our loyal customers for Special Olympics,” said Kathleen Waugh, chairman of the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund. “These customer donations, combined with grants from the Toys “R” Us Children’s Fund, provided a significant contribution of nearly $4 million to Special Olympics to advance the organization’s efforts to bring the benefit of sports to kids of all abilities. As the 100-day countdown to the 2015 World Games commences, we’re eager to celebrate these children who will experience their very first sports moment on a grand stage.”

Throughout the duration of the eight-week awareness and fundraising program, Toys “R” Us customers pledged their support to help children with intellectual and developmental disabilities experience #MyFirstSportsMoment by learning how to hit balls, run bases, take jump shots and more through Special Olympics. One hundred percent of customer donations will be directed to Special Olympics and applied towards the upcoming 2015 World Games, as well as the expansion of the Young Athletes Program around the world. Additionally, the company celebrated the youngest Special Olympics athletes on its official social media channels, including Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Instagram, where fans and followers shared their #MyFirstSportsMoment memories and experiences.

The Special Olympics run from July 25 through August 2 in Los Angeles and involve 7,000 athletes and 3,000 coaches from 177 countries.

As part of the expanded partnership between Toys “R” Us and Special Olympics, the Toys “R” Us Children’s Fund also awarded a $500,000 grant to the organization to advance its five-year plan to grow the Young Athletes Program in the U.S. and across the globe, so 2½ to 7 year olds everywhere can build critical physical, cognitive, and sports skills through the power of play.

“Special Olympics and Toys “R” Us have a tremendous legacy of working together and we’re thrilled to be expanding our relationship on such a global scale,” said Janet Froetscher, CEO of the Special Olympics. “The Toys “R” Us ‘My First’ initiative will allow us to reach more young athletes and provide them the opportunity to experience the transformative power and joy of sports.”



The Special Olympics promises to be the largest sports and humanitarian event anywhere in the world in 2015, and the single biggest event in Los Angeles since the 1984 Olympic Games. The opening ceremonies, in the historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, site of the 1932 and 1984 Olympics, is expected to draw 80,000 attendees.