Our Story

It was in a small, single-room hut in rural Zambia that Spin Master Co-Founder Ronnen Harary realized the impact that a single toy could have. On the hut’s clay walls hung a lone shelf, upon which sat an old and worn Barbie doll; her clothes and hair tattered and aged. Occupying a prominent space in the home, the doll was a prized possession of the family and provided hours of entertainment, companionship, and imagination for their young children. Seeing this weathered toy – and the joy that it brought – it was impossible to ignore the significance it had on the lives of those children. The doll allowed them to dream and to imagine, it was a friend and a confidant.

After returning to Spin Master’s head office, Ronnen knew that more could be done. Spin Master began delivering toys to children in need around the world. Leveraging a network of connections, these grassroots missions brought together numerous local volunteers, companies, and government officials. These early missions built the foundation for the Toy Movement and proved the impact that toys could have on the lives of children. These grassroots missions have now evolved into a formal partnership and organization of its own. The Toy Movement’s mission is simple: to create a movement that delivers inspiration, imagination, and joy to children around the world, regardless of circumstances.

“As of 2023, UNHCR reported that 117.3 million people worldwide were living in forced displacement, driven from home by persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations or events seriously disturbing public order. Children accounted for two in five of the world’s forcibly displaced people.”*. The Toy Movement aims to show these children that they are not alone, that they are not forgotten, and that they deserve to play, learn, and grow – as all children should.

*UNICEF Data. (2023). 9 Facts about Children on the Move. Retrieved from https://data.unicef.org/resources/9-facts-about-children-on-the-move/