When Judd Zebersky founded Jazwares in 1997, philanthropy was not an afterthought. He embedded giving into the company’s structure from the beginning, creating Jazwares Cares as the company’s official philanthropic arm before the brand had any real commercial footing. Decades later, that decision has shaped one of the more quietly consequential corporate giving programs in the toy industry.
A Corporate Structure Built Around Children
Zebersky came to the toy industry by an unconventional route. He had practiced law in South Florida, then made the abrupt decision to leave his firm, fly to China, and spend months learning toy manufacturing from factory workers and production lines. In 1997, Jazwares was born. From that first year, Jazwares Cares operated alongside the business itself. Today, the program includes donation initiatives, school partnerships, and employee volunteer programs operating across multiple countries. Employees receive 16 hours of annual paid volunteer time, and the company runs an Adopt-a-School program focused specifically on Title I schools in underserved areas.
Personal Giving Alongside the Corporate Programs
Judd Zebersky and his wife Laura did not leave the work entirely to the company. The couple contributed $2 million personally to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in South Florida, supporting the hospital’s “Catch the Love” capital expansion campaign. That project extended the facility from four floors to eight, part of a $170 million construction effort. In recognition, the hospital named both the Pediatric Emergency Department Registration Area and the Outpatient Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Unit after the Zebersky family. The couple also created a Lotsy Dotsy doll honoring the hospital’s resident clown, designed specifically to provide comfort to young patients during their stays. “Not only are they a top-notch pediatric facility, but they also provide quality medical care regardless of a family’s ability to pay,” Judd Zebersky said of the hospital. Judd Zebersky stepped down as CEO in March 2026, handing the company to longtime COO David Neustein. The giving infrastructure he built over nearly three decades remains fully intact. Refer to this article, for related information.
Find more information about Judd Zebersky on https://www.jazwares.com/about-us/leadership