Children's Toy Fund, Inc.

08/21/2026

More Than a Bear. More Than a Day. 🧸💙

Nearly two months later, we’re still looking back on our 2026 Be A Friend Program and the incredible reminder that small acts of kindness can create the biggest ripples.

Watching young people discover that they have the power to make a difference—to be World Changers—was truly something special.

We’re so grateful to every child, family, sponsor, volunteer, and community partner who helped make this day possible.

You helped create moments these kids will carry with them—and kindness that will reach children they may never meet. 💙

Building friends, creating memories, and showing young people that even small acts of kindness can make a big difference. The Be A Friend Program was created to empower youth within our partner organizations to experience the joy of giving firsthand. Each participant creates two stuffed-animal frien...

08/20/2026

August brings some birthday magic 💫🎉

Hand picking the toys for each birthday child at Pathway Caring For Children is always a special honor. Every child has unique likes, that's why we like providing gifts that feel personal 🎁🎉

Birthdays are a special way to say, "You are special!" 🩷🩵🧡💜

08/18/2026

NEW TOY ALERT 🚨

We received our very first delivery from Spin Master Global / GUND.

The cuddle meter was off the charts!! ✔

Building new partnerships gives us the opportunity to get the hottest, most popular toys 🔥 The toys that will bring the smiles, comfort and cuddles to children in difficult situations within our community 😊

A huge thank you to our new friends at Spin Master and Gund!

08/17/2026

Happy National Nonprofit Day!

Today, we're celebrating the incredible community that makes our work possible. Every toy, volunteer, donation, service project, bingo game, share, and word of encouragement helps us bring hope, comfort, fun, and smiles to kiddos facing difficult situations 🧸

Want to help us make an impact?

Donate. Volunteer. Organize a service project. Play at Bingo. Follow us. Share our story. Spread the word. There are so many ways to be part of the ripple!

You don't have to do everything. Just do something. Together, we can bring more smiles to the kids who need them most 💖

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GET INVOLVED WITH OUR MISSION
View the link below to begin 👇

08/12/2026

Thank you Just Like You & Me for joining our and capturing the impact 🧸

It's moments like these that truly shows that children within our community are not alone. Everyone was there to empower them, expressing that each person is capable of making a difference no matter their life circumstances.

Smiles and hope were spread, one bear and one small act of kindness at a time 💖

08/07/2026

They came to build a friend. They left knowing they could change the world 💙🧸

Our 2026 Be A Friend Program was about so much more than building stuffed animals. It was about empowering young people to discover that even the smallest acts of kindness can create a ripple of hope, comfort, and joy for someone else.

From the moment the kids arrived to the moment they proudly became World Changers, we watched confidence grow, friendships form, and kindness come to life. Each participant created one friend to take on their own adventures and another to be given to a child at Akron Children’s Hospital who needed a little extra comfort.

This recap captures just a glimpse of the smiles, laughter, encouragement, teamwork, and heart that made this day so meaningful. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who helped make it possible. 💙

🎥 Watch the full 2026 Be A Friend Program Recap and see the impact for yourself.

Join us as we continue inspiring the next generation to become world changers—one act of kindness at a time.

If you'd like to support this program next year as a sponsor, volunteer, community partner, or donor, we'd love to hear from you!

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A heartfelt thank-you to everyone (listed in the comments) who helped bring this program to life 💖

MUSIC
Music is provided through EpidemicSound with a subscription. We do not claim the music as our own.

08/04/2026

What if one small act of kindness could change two lives? 🧸💙

The countdown is almost over...

We're so excited to share a first look at our 2026 Be A Friend Program—a day created to help young people see just how powerful they truly are. Through simple acts of kindness, they're reminded that they can bring comfort, hope, and smiles to someone else, no matter what circumstances they may be facing themselves.

This teaser is just the beginning. The full recap video will be released later this week, and we can't wait to take you behind the scenes to experience the smiles, the memories, and the moments that made this year's program so special.

🎥 Watch the teaser, then let us know in the comments what moment you're most excited to see in the full video!

08/04/2026

Spreading fun and smiles to children and adults alike 🧸

Thank you Project KARE for being an amazing partner and always coordinating with us to spread the joy 💖

Thank you to our friends at Children's Toy Fund, Inc. for their generous donation of 57 backpacks, 288 bubbles, 8 toys, 24 card games & a blanket bundle. Their continued support is so very much appreciated. We also appreciate the fun they bring when delivering donations.

07/30/2026

It was a beautiful day to visit Aultman Hospital Canton ☀️

We had the pleasure of restocking their ICU with squishy, comfort items. From Barbie, Paw Patrol, dinosaurs, and poppers there will be something for every little one 💙💛

Thank you Aultman Health for partnering with us to help spread smiles during some of life's toughest moments 😊

07/29/2026

World Changers 🌎💙

Every child who participated in this year's Be A Friend Program left with more than a stuffed animal—they left with a reminder of the difference they can make.

As each participant donated their second Build-A-Bear going to a child at Akron Children's Hospital, they were awarded a special medal. Inscribed on the back were two simple, yet powerful, words: World Changer.

We wanted every child to walk away knowing that changing the world doesn't always begin with grand gestures. Sometimes, it starts with choosing kindness. With taking time to think of someone else. With giving comfort to a child they may never meet.

The pride on their faces as they received their medals was unforgettable. In that moment, they weren't just building bears—they were building compassion, confidence, and the belief that they have the power to make a lasting difference.

Our hope is that long after this event, these medals continue to remind each child that they are capable of creating change, one small act of kindness at a time.

Because today's kind hearts becomes tomorrow's world changers 💙🧸

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Akron Children's Build-A-Bear Workshop Crown Awards Hall of Fame Village