In 1997, Judd Zebersky walked away from a South Florida law career to start a toy company with no manufacturing experience. He spent months in Chinese factories learning the trade before returning to build Jazwares. In that same founding period, he established Jazwares Cares the company’s philanthropic arm making community giving part of the company’s identity before Jazwares had established any real commercial presence.

How Jazwares Cares Operates

Jazwares Cares runs across multiple countries, coordinating toy donations to children’s hospitals, schools, and nonprofits. Its Adopt-a-School initiative targets Title I schools in underserved communities, while an employee volunteer program gives staff 16 hours of paid time off annually for community service. As Judd Zebersky put it in 2025: “Putting a smile on children’s faces is at the heart of everything we do.” Over nearly three decades, as Jazwares grew into a global company behind brands like Squishmallows, those programs scaled in parallel.

Two Major Giving Relationships Define the Legacy

The family’s work with Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital reflected the broader model. Judd Zebersky and Laura Zebersky contributed $2 million to the hospital’s capital campaign, funding part of a $170 million project that expanded the facility from four to eight floors. Judd Zebersky spoke directly about the hospital’s approach: “Not only are they a top-notch pediatric facility, but they also provide quality medical care regardless of a family’s ability to pay.” Two units the Pediatric Emergency Department Registration Area and the Outpatient Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Unit now carry the Zebersky name. The couple also created a custom Lotsy Dotsy doll modeled after the hospital’s resident clown to comfort pediatric patients during their stays.

Their commitment to Make-A-Wish Southern Florida was equally long-term. Laura Zebersky chaired the organization’s board following three years of service. Together, the Zeberskys funded more than 100 individual wishes and backed the InterContinental Miami Make-A-Wish Ball, which raised over $5 million. Jazwares donated more than 10,000 Squishmallows a character named Star, designed for children with serious illnesses to Make-A-Wish chapters in the U.S. and Canada. When Judd Zebersky stepped down as CEO in March 2026, he left behind a giving program that had been running since the company’s first year in operation. Refer to this article for related information.

 

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