For Judd Zebersky, corporate philanthropy was never purely a financial transaction. The giving programs he built at Jazwares included a direct role for employees not through optional volunteerism but through structured paid time that the company provided as a benefit.
Volunteer Time as a Company Standard
Jazwares employees receive 16 hours of paid volunteer time annually, a feature built into the company’s operations under Judd Zebersky’s leadership. That policy is part of a broader giving infrastructure that also includes the Adopt-a-School program, which directs resources toward Title I schools, and partnerships with organizations including Make-A-Wish, Toys for Tots, and Ronald McDonald House. Jazwares Cares, the company’s philanthropic arm, was established by Judd Zebersky in 1997 and has donated millions of toys across multiple countries over the following decades.
Hospital and Wish Organization Partnerships
Beyond the internal programs, Judd Zebersky built lasting relationships with specific organizations. At Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, the Zebersky family donated $2 million toward the hospital’s major capital expansion and collaborated with staff to develop a custom Lotsy Dotsy doll for pediatric patients. The hospital named two areas in their honor. At Make-A-Wish Southern Florida, Laura Zebersky served on the board for three years before becoming chair in 2022. Together, the couple funded more than 100 wishes and served as benefactors at a Make-A-Wish Ball that raised over $5 million. Jazwares deepened that partnership by donating more than 10,000 Squishmallows to Make-A-Wish chapters across the United States and Canada. Zebersky’s tenure as CEO concluded in March 2026, but the employee volunteer programs and community partnerships he established remain in operation. See related link for additional information.
Visit his page on https://toyworldmag.co.uk/jazwares-announces-departure-of-senior-leadership/, to learn more.