Toys”R”Us Raises more than $2 million for the Special Olympics

Toys”R”Us has announced that it has raised more than $2 million for the Special Olympics. Over an eight-week awareness fundraising program held in stores, 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. The company also encouraged individuals to share their #MyFirstSportsMoment memories and experiences on social media.

In conjunction with this campaign, the Toys”R”Us Children’s Fund made a $1.25 million commitment to serve as a Games Sponsor of the 2015 Special Olympics World Games, which in just 100 days, will welcome 7,000 athletes and 3,000 coaches representing 177 countries, to Los Angeles, CA from July 25 to August 2. 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 aggressive 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.

For many years, the Toys”R”Us Children’s Fund, a public charity affiliated with the company, has directed grants to Special Olympics to support the organization’s Young Athletes Program. Most recently, it provided $1 million to become the first Founding Partner of the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games held in New Jersey, and with an additional $250,000 grant, was also Presenting Sponsor of the Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg for those Games.

Congrats Toys”R”Us on doing some good in the world.