Jazwares Cares Judd Zebersky’s Plan to Put Giving at the Core
When Judd Zebersky founded Jazwares in 1997, he did not wait for the company to reach a certain size before thinking about philanthropy. He built Jazwares Cares at the very start, creating a formal giving structure at a time when many toy startups were still working out how to ship product consistently. That early commitment grew into one of the industry’s more comprehensive corporate giving programs.
What the Program Looks Like Today
Jazwares Cares now covers multiple countries, operating through school partnerships, hospital donations, and employee volunteer programs. The Adopt-a-School initiative directs toys and resources to Title I schools schools with high concentrations of students from low-income families. Employees receive 16 hours of paid volunteer time off annually. Judd Zebersky summed up the company’s philosophy in 2025: “Putting a smile on children’s faces is at the heart of everything we do.” As the company grew to become home to global brands including Squishmallows, those giving programs scaled alongside commercial operations.
The Zeberskys’ Hospital and Wish Foundation Work
Judd Zebersky and Laura Zebersky added personal funding to the institutional program. Their $2 million contribution to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital supported a $170 million construction project that expanded the facility from four to eight floors. The couple created a custom Lotsy Dotsy doll based on the hospital’s resident clown, specifically designed to comfort young patients during stays. In recognition, the hospital named two areas after the Zebersky family: the Pediatric Emergency Department Registration Area and the Outpatient Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Unit.
Their work with Make-A-Wish Southern Florida spanned years rather than a single campaign. Laura Zebersky chaired the organization’s board after three years of service. The couple funded more than 100 wishes and backed the InterContinental Miami Make-A-Wish Ball, an event that raised over $5 million. Jazwares also created Star a Squishmallows character designed for children with serious illnesses and donated more than 10,000 units to Make-A-Wish chapters across the U.S. and Canada. Judd Zebersky stepped down as CEO in March 2026, leaving behind a giving infrastructure that had operated since the company’s founding. Visit this page for related information.
Find more information about Judd Zebersky on https://www.jazwares.com/about-us/leadership
When Judd Zebersky founded Jazwares in 1997, he did not wait for the company to reach a certain size before thinking about philanthropy. He built Jazwares Cares at the very start, creating a formal giving structure at a time when many toy startups were still working out how to ship product consistently. That early commitment…