Most toy company founders spend their early years focused on survival. Judd Zebersky was focused on that too but he also built the company’s philanthropic arm, Jazwares Cares, from day one. That decision, made when Jazwares was still a startup, shaped the organization’s identity over the following three decades and produced one of the consumer goods industry’s more substantial community investment programs.
Structure Built to Last
Jazwares Cares operates across multiple countries, running donation programs, school partnerships, and employee volunteer initiatives. The Adopt-a-School program specifically targets Title I schools, directing toys and resources toward underserved communities. Jazwares employees receive 16 hours of paid volunteer time off each year a policy that keeps community engagement active at the staff level rather than limited to executive decisions. As Judd Zebersky explained in 2025, “Putting a smile on children’s faces is at the heart of everything we do.”
Hospital Partnerships and Personalized Giving
The company’s relationship with Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital illustrates how Judd Zebersky translated corporate values into concrete action. He and his wife Laura donated $2 million to the hospital’s “Catch the Love” capital campaign, part of a $170 million expansion project that doubled the facility’s floor count from four to eight. Beyond the financial gift, the Zeberskys created a custom Lotsy Dotsy doll designed to honor the hospital’s resident clown and comfort children during their stays.
The couple’s engagement with Make-A-Wish Southern Florida followed a similar pattern of hands-on involvement. Laura Zebersky chaired the board after serving three years as a member. Together, they funded more than 100 wishes and backed the InterContinental Miami Make-A-Wish Ball, which raised more than $5 million. Jazwares contributed over 10,000 Squishmallows a version called Star created for children with serious illnesses to Make-A-Wish chapters in the U.S. and Canada. The giving infrastructure Judd Zebersky assembled over his tenure remained in place when he stepped down as CEO in March 2026. Read this article for additional information.
Learn more about Judd Zebersky on https://www.allamericanspeakers.com/celebritytalentbios/Judd+Zebersky/462554