Kathleen Campisano of Beacon Media Group Will Serve as Chairperson for a Two-Year Term

NEW YORK, NY — The Toy Foundation™ (TTF) Board of Trustees appointed Kathleen Campisano, global chief marketing officer & general manager of Beacon Media Group, as chair of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, on February 28. Campisano, alongside newly appointed Vice Chair Michael Keaton and TTF’s Executive Director Pam Mastrota, will lead the Foundation in implementing aspects of The Toy Association’s three-year action plan to serve and unite members behind philanthropic initiatives that deliver the comfort of play to children when they need it most.

“We are deeply grateful for Andy Quartin, CEO of Thames & Kosmos, who served as our chair the past two years and implemented a strategic action plan to exponentially grow our collective impact on children in need. His unwavering commitment to our mission has left an indelible mark on The Toy Foundation,” Mastrota said. “As we look to expand our work through The Toy Association’s action plan, Kathleen’s vast skillset and enthusiasm will steer our efforts to become the preeminent philanthropic partner for the entire toy industry as we strive to reach even more children with the power of play.”

For 35 years, Campisano has worked within the toy industry to create and deliver the best play experiences possible for children. She has driven multimillion-dollar growth for companies by analyzing consumer insights and translating them into unique market opportunities. She served on The Toy Association’s Board of Directors from 2017 to 2023 and joined The Toy Foundation’s Board of Trustees in 2019. She initiated the Foundation’s program to fund play projects at children’s hospitals treating under-resourced communities. Campisano’s expertise, commitment, and passion have made her an influential voice and an effective partner to the industry that will seamlessly translate into her role as chair of the Board of Trustees.

“Our industry works every day to create wonderful play opportunities that shape children’s lives. By uniting behind The Toy Foundation, we can create a world where every child has the opportunity to experience the comfort, joy, and extraordinary benefits of play,” said Campisano. “As chair of The Toy Foundation, I look forward to partnering with companies of all sizes to distribute more toys and fund more children’s hospitals to support children in need around the world. Our impact is greater by working together.”

Newly appointed Vice Chair Michael Keaton also joined TTF’s Board of Trustees in 2019 and has played a critical role in transitioning TTF into a strategic fundraising organization that better serves the industry and children everywhere. An industry veteran and change agent, he has served in leadership roles to strategically and successfully build brands and increase company value.

On February 28, TTF’s Board of Trustees also elected five new members, each of whom will share their expertise and relationships to expand TTF’s work:

• Lindsay Britt, Vice President of Global Client Partnerships, Ad Sales at Paramount Global
• Erica Buxton, President at Razor USA, LLC
• Kristin McKay, Senior Vice President and General Manager – Global Brands at Hasbro, Inc.
• Tammy Smitham, Vice President, Communications & Corporate Social Responsibility at Spin Master
• Brian Weiss, President at Goliath Games North America

“I am excited to work alongside Michael as we continue to strengthen The Toy Foundation’s impact,” Campisano continued. “And on behalf of the entire TTF Board of Trustees, we extend a warm welcome to Lindsay, Erica, Kristin, Tammy, and Brian for their commitment to uniting the collective philanthropy of the toy industry for the benefit of all children in need.”

To learn more about The Toy Foundation, visit toyfoundation.org, and follow The Toy Foundation on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.

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 $42 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.