Toy Foundation Partners with Build-A-Bear & Chuck E. Cheese to Raise $100,000 for Children in Need

Rhea-AI Summary

The Toy Foundation, the philanthropic arm of The Toy Association, marked the United Nation's International Day of Play (June 11) with cause marketing campaigns alongside Build-A-Bear Foundation and Chuck E. Cheese, raising over $100,000 to support its mission of delivering play to children in need.

The Chuck E. Cheese partnership ran a three-part June fundraising effort at nearly 500 locations, featuring $5 donations rewarded with 500 tickets, $1–$3 FreedomPay pin pad donations, and a limited-edition Thinking Putty with 100% of purchase price benefitting The Toy Foundation. Build-A-Bear conducted a June 8–12 U.S. and UK campaign, inviting guests to donate any amount in-store and online.

These efforts complemented an International Day of Play toy collection, through which nearly 20 companies donated $5.7 million in toys, to be distributed to more than 450,000 children globally. Build-A-Bear reported $529.8 million in fiscal 2025 revenues, its fifth consecutive year of record results.

News Market Reaction – BBW

-0.18%

-0.18% Session close to close

In the Jul 21 session, BBW declined 0.18%, reflecting a mild negative market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Market Context

The prior partnership record, event 744397, included a -4.34% 24-hour reaction, adding an important ...

Analysis

The prior partnership record, event 744397, included a -4.34% 24-hour reaction, adding an important comparison to this charitable campaign; moderate short positioning and recent net selling warrant monitoring.

Key Figures

Campaign fundraising: over $100,000 Chuck E. Cheese locations: nearly 500 locations Checkout donation: $5 +4 more

7 metrics

Campaign fundraising over $100,000 Two International Day of Play campaigns

Chuck E. Cheese locations nearly 500 locations Campaign checkout donations

Checkout donation $5 Donors received 500 tickets

Product proceeds donated 100% Limited-edition Thinking Putty purchase price

Toy-donating companies nearly 20 companies International Day of Play toy collection

Toy donations $5.7 million International Day of Play toy collection

Children receiving toys more than 450,000 children Under-resourced communities, schools, and hospitals

Previous Partnership Reports

1 past event · Latest: Sep 05 (Positive)

Same Type Pattern 1 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	24h Move	Catalyst
Sep 05	Partnership agreement	Positive	-4.3%	Exclusive Kansas City Chiefs deal expanded licensed products and marketing reach.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Pattern Detected

The tag-specific record showed a negative reaction to the prior partnership announcement.

Key Terms

cause marketing, 501(c)(3)

2 terms

cause marketing financial

"The Toy Foundation partners with companies and retailers to create tailored cause marketing campaigns"

Cause marketing is when a company links its products, services, or advertising to a social cause or nonprofit to raise awareness and encourage customers to support both the brand and the cause. It matters to investors because these campaigns can change sales, customer loyalty, and brand reputation—like a company putting a charity sticker on its product that influences buying choices and public perception—affecting revenue, risk, and long-term value.

501(c)(3) regulatory

"The Toy Foundation™ is a 501(c)(3) children's charity"

A 501(c)(3) is a U.S. federal tax designation for organizations organized and operated for charitable, educational, religious, scientific or literary purposes, which exempts them from federal income tax and generally makes donations to them tax-deductible. Investors pay attention because the designation shapes how the organization raises money, what activities it can legally pursue (for example, limits on political lobbying), and how transparent and financially stable it must be—factors that affect risk, reputation, and potential partnerships.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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The International Day of Play-themed cause marketing campaigns engaged consumers through promotions, exclusive product, & pin pad donations.

NEW YORK, July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Toy Foundation™, the philanthropic arm of The Toy Association™, celebrated the United Nation's International Day of Play (June 11) with two cause marketing campaigns with Build-A-Bear Foundation and Chuck E. Cheese. Together, the campaigns raised over $100,000, as families across the country and around the world supported The Toy Foundation's mission to deliver the power of play to children in need.

The Toy Foundation's partnership with Chuck E. Cheese included a three-part fundraising campaign throughout the month of June. At nearly 500 Chuck E. Cheese locations, families who donated $5 at checkout received 500 tickets to use toward prizes, turning a charitable gift into extra fun. Families also had the option to make a $1 or $3 donation directly at the pin pad, powered by FreedomPay's Gateway to Giving™ — a charitable program that enables seamless giving at the point of sale, creating another opportunity to support a child in need. At select fun centers, families could also purchase a Chuck E. Cheese x Crazy Aaron's Limited-Edition Thinking Putty, with one hundred percent of the purchase price benefitting The Toy Foundation.

"Partnering with The Toy Foundation this International Day of Play allowed us to make a real difference through the power of play," said Scott Drake, CEO of CEC Entertainment. "Play is at the heart of everything we do, and we are deeply grateful to the families that joined us in supporting this great cause. Together, we are giving back in a meaningful way that inspires pride across our entire community."

Build-A-Bear brought its signature warmth to workshops across the U.S. and the UK with a weeklong fundraising campaign held June 8 to 12. Shoppers made donations in amounts of their choosing at checkout, both in stores and online, with every dollar supporting The Toy Foundation's work to deliver play to children in need.

"Build-A-Bear Foundation is proud to partner with The Toy Foundation in advancing the shared belief that play has the power to positively impact children's lives," said David Henderson, president of Build-A-Bear Foundation. "From toy donations and sponsorship support to this International Day of Play fundraising campaign, we are committed to helping create more moments of joy for children and families in need. We are so grateful to our guests and partners whose generosity continues to make that impact possible."

These fundraising campaigns complimented The Toy Foundation's International Day of Play toy collection initiative, which resulted in nearly 20 companies donating $5.7 million in toys. The toy donations are being distributed to more than 450,000 children in under-resourced communities, schools, and hospitals around the world.

"We are grateful to Build-A-Bear Foundation and Chuck E. Cheese for their support, collaboration, and partnership in hosting two successful cause marketing campaigns, and to the companies that generously donated toys in honor of International Day of Play," said Pam Mastrota, executive director of The Toy Foundation. "Together, we are making a lasting impact, transforming children's lives with the power of play."

The Toy Foundation partners with companies and retailers to create tailored cause marketing campaigns that engage consumers and support children through play.

Campaign opportunities include:

• Retail campaigns that donate a portion of proceeds from select products
• Point-of-sale donation campaigns
• Co-branded products featuring cause-related messaging
• Customized campaigns tailored to a company's goals

To learn more and get involved in advancing the toy industry's collective impact, visit toyfoundation.org or contact The Toy Foundation team.

About The Toy Foundation™ www.toyfoundation.org
The Toy Foundation™ is a 501(c)(3) children's charity and philanthropic arm of The Toy Association. The uniting force for the collective philanthropy of the toy industry, The Toy Foundation is dedicated to creating a world where every child experiences the comfort, joy, and extraordinary benefits of play. The Toy Foundation works toward this vision through two program areas, Toy Chest, a toy distribution initiative, and Play Fund, a grant distribution initiative. By working together, The Toy Foundation has delivered the power of play to 38 million children in need worldwide. To learn more about The Toy Foundation, visit toyfoundation.org.

About Build‑A‑Bear Workshop, Inc.
Founded in 1997, Build‑A‑Bear is a leading global retailtainment brand on a mission to add a little more heart to life. At Build-A-Bear, guests are invited to create personalized furry friends through a unique stuffing, dressing, accessorizing and naming process, accentuated by a memorable "heart ceremony" that creates moments of connection for people of all ages.

Over the years, Build‑A‑Bear has grown into a multi‑generational phenomenon, positioned at the intersection of pop‑culture trends. Beyond its signature retail experience, the brand also offers pre‑stuffed plush, gifting, partnerships with best‑in‑class licensed and collectible characters, and original storytelling through Build‑A‑Bear Entertainment, LLC. Build‑A‑Bear's current brand platform and message, "The Stuff You Love," crosses ages and cultures while celebrating nearly 30 years of helping people mark life's meaningful moments.

Today, Build‑A‑Bear operates more than 650 company-owned, partner-operated and franchise experience locations across more than 30 countries, complemented by buildabear.com. Build‑A‑Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE: BBW) reported $529.8 million in total revenues for fiscal 2025, representing the company's 5th consecutive year of record results. Learn more at the Investor Relations section of buildabear.com.

About Chuck E. Cheese
Chuck E. Cheese is where over 550,000 happy birthdays are celebrated every year. For nearly 50 years, Chuck E. Cheese has been the place Where A Kid Can Be A Kid^®, making birthday kids the star of the show through its interactive experiences, arcade games and the beloved Chuck E. Cheese character. The brand operates more than 500 locations globally and remains committed to providing a fun, safe and inclusive environment through industry-leading programs such as Kid Check^® and its partnership with Autism Speaks. As a strong advocate for local communities, Chuck E. Cheese has donated more than $24 million to schools and nonprofits through its fundraising programs. For more information, visit www.chuckecheese.com.

Contact: Erin Wright
The Toy Foundation
646.520.4851
ewright@toyfoundation.org

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/toy-foundation-partners-with-build-a-bear--chuck-e-cheese-to-raise-100-000-for-children-in-need-302831086.html

SOURCE The Toy Foundation

FAQ

How much money did Build-A-Bear (NYSE: BBW) and Chuck E. Cheese raise with The Toy Foundation in June 2026?

Build-A-Bear Foundation and Chuck E. Cheese campaigns raised over $100,000 for The Toy Foundation. According to The Toy Foundation, the funds support delivering the power of play to children in need across the United States and internationally through its Toy Chest and Play Fund programs.

What was the International Day of Play fundraising campaign with Chuck E. Cheese in June 2026?

The Chuck E. Cheese campaign was a three-part June 2026 fundraiser supporting The Toy Foundation. According to The Toy Foundation, it included $5 donations rewarded with 500 tickets, $1–$3 FreedomPay pin pad gifts, and a limited-edition Thinking Putty with all proceeds donated.

How did Build-A-Bear (BBW) participate in The Toy Foundation International Day of Play campaign in 2026?

Build-A-Bear ran a weeklong fundraising campaign from June 8–12, 2026 benefiting The Toy Foundation. According to The Toy Foundation, U.S. and UK guests donated at checkout in-store and online, with every dollar supporting play-focused programs for children and families in need worldwide.

How many toys and children were impacted by The Toy Foundation International Day of Play 2026 initiative?

Nearly 20 companies donated $5.7 million in toys for International Day of Play 2026. According to The Toy Foundation, these toys are being distributed to more than 450,000 children in under-resourced communities, schools, and hospitals around the world through its Toy Chest initiative.

What recent financial performance did Build-A-Bear (NYSE: BBW) report alongside The Toy Foundation partnership news?

Build-A-Bear reported $529.8 million in total revenues for fiscal 2025, its fifth straight year of record results. According to Build-A-Bear, this performance reflects its multi-generational brand strength across more than 650 locations and digital channels, complementing its philanthropic work with The Toy Foundation.

What types of cause marketing campaigns does The Toy Foundation offer to partners like Build-A-Bear (BBW)?

The Toy Foundation offers retail campaigns donating product proceeds, point-of-sale donation programs, and co-branded products with cause messaging. According to The Toy Foundation, it also designs customized campaigns aligned with a company’s goals to engage consumers while funding play-focused support for children in need.

How can companies collaborate with The Toy Foundation on campaigns similar to the BBW and Chuck E. Cheese initiatives?

Companies can partner by developing tailored cause marketing campaigns with The Toy Foundation that engage customers and fund play programs. According to The Toy Foundation, interested organizations are invited to visit toyfoundation.org or contact its team to explore retail, POS, or co-branded product opportunities.