People of Play’s TAGIE Awards to

Broadcast Nationwide on ‘Toys of Our Lives’

Hour-Long Special Airs January 18 on CBS

CHICAGO, IL | January 13, 2025 — The Toy & Game International Excellence (TAGIE) Awards, hosted annually by People of Play (POP), will take center stage in a full hour-long special airing January 18 on CBS. As part of an episode of the “Toys of Our Lives” series — which spotlights the people and stories behind beloved playthings — the awards ceremony will broadcast in major markets, including New York, Boston, Detroit, Dallas/Fort Worth, Atlanta, Seattle, Pittsburgh, Sacramento, Tampa Bay, and more. Viewers can check their local listings for airtimes in their area.

Held on November 8 in Chicago with the theme of “Toys Through Time,” the 17th annual TAGIE Awards celebrated and honored the inventors, designers, and innovators behind some of the most beloved toys and games in the industry. Winners in nine categories were announced and three honorees were celebrated with a Lifetime Achievement Award, including:

• Mary Danby, British designer of many innovative toys and games
• Dan Romanelli, founder of Warner Bros. Consumer Products, who transformed the studio's licensing and merchandising division
• Alan Dorfman, co-founder/president of Super Impulse USA — known for the world’s smallest, fully functional, playable toys and games

Viewers will also be entertained by Host Karri Bean, senior manager of LEGO at Disney Consumer Products, along with the creative scriptwriting of Barry and Jason Entertainment — amplified by a time machine that transports the audience through decades of toy crazes.

“Today’s consumers want to feel a connection with the products they buy,” said Mary Couzin, senior vice president and founder/leader of People of Play at The Toy Association™. “The people behind our popular playthings are as fascinating, making this special a powerful way to engage audiences of all ages.”

“Being on-site to film POP Week events for the premiere episode of ‘Toys of Our Lives’ and capturing the energy of the TAGIE Awards for this hour-long televised special was an unforgettable experience,” said Donna Drake, co-executive producer of “Toys of Our Lives.” “We’re eager to share these inspiring stories with our CBS audience.”

The TAGIES ceremony was one of several events that took place during People of Play’s annual POP Week, including the Inventor Pitch & Innovation Conference, Young Inventor Challenge, and Chicago Toy & Game Fair.

Click here for more information about the TAGIE Awards.

About The Toy Association™  toyassociation.org / toyfoundation.org / peopleofplay.com / thegeniusofplay.org / playsafe.org

Founded in 1916, The Toy Association^™, Inc. is the business trade association representing all businesses involved in creating and delivering toys and youth entertainment products for kids of all ages. The Toy Association leads the health and growth of the U.S. toy industry, which has an annual U.S. economic impact of $157.5 billion, and its roughly 900 members drive the annual $41 billion U.S. domestic toy market. The Toy Association serves as the industry's voice on the developmental benefits of play and promotes play's positive impact on childhood development. The organization has a long history of leadership in toy safety, having helped develop the first comprehensive toy safety standard more than 40 years ago, and remains committed to working with medical experts, governments, consumers, and the industry on ongoing programs to ensure safe and fun play.     

As a global leader, The Toy Association produces the world-renowned Toy Fair^™ in New York City; hosts marketplace activities in Los Angeles; engages in state, federal, and international advocacy on behalf of its members; supports the inventor and design community through People of Play™ and its numerous assets and events, including the consumer-facing Chicago Toy & Game Fair; sustains the Canadian Toy Association; acts as secretariat for the International Council of Toy Industries and International Toy Industry CEO Roundtable; and chairs the committee that reviews and revises America's widely emulated ASTM F963 toy safety standard. The Toy Association's philanthropic arm is The Toy Foundation^™, a 501 (c)(3) children's charity that acts as the uniting force for the collective philanthropy of the toy industry. To date, The Toy Foundation has delivered the joy of play to 33 million children in need worldwide.

About People of Play™  peopleofplay.com / chitag.com / playineducation

People of Play (POP), a division of The Toy Association™, leads the global toy and game industry in promoting innovation, creativity, and connectivity. A one-stop source of community for industry professionals, aspiring inventors, and people of all ages who love to play, People of Play hosts a play platform packed with resources and connection points as well as a wide range of events including the Chicago Toy & Game (CHITAG) Fair, the Toy & Game International Excellence (TAGIEs) Awards, the Young Inventor Challenge, the Toy & Game Inventor Pitch and Innovation Conference, Thought Leaders Summit, Toy Takedown and more.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:  Amy Friedland
 Emily Auriemma
 Susan O’Sullivan
People of Play PR