From the Chairman, TIA From the Chairman, TIF Dear Friends, Colleagues, and Honored Guests: As Chairman of the <strong>Toy</strong> <strong>Industry</strong> <strong>Association</strong>, it is both a pleasure and an honor to welcome you to the 11th Annual <strong>Toy</strong> of the Year (TOTY) Awards. As we begin a new decade of TOTY, we also debut a wide range of enhancements to the industry’s premier awards program. Some of these changes – such as our fantastic new venue – you will have noticed immediately, but many other changes that have helped to bring this program up to the next level went on largely behind the scenes. Nearly 60 toy industry academics, inventors and designers, journalists and media experts, and retail buyers from mass and specialty outlets lent their time, wisdom and expertise as members of the 11 Nominating Committees that were formed to review the hundreds of products submitted and determine which would earn a prestigious spot on this year’s TOTY ballots. The 70 TOTY finalists were unveiled during a national press conference held just days before the official kick-off of the holiday shopping season. The winners you will hear announced tonight represent the “best of the best” toys, games and licenses our industry has to offer as determined through the responses to five distinct ballots that were completed by industry peers, retailers (mass and specialty), media, and consumers… those who actually play with our products. Tonight, we will also honor industry veteran Al Verrecchia, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Hasbro, Inc. and the late Donald Duncan, founder of Duncan <strong>Toy</strong>s, as we induct them into the <strong>Toy</strong> <strong>Industry</strong> Hall of Fame. Both Al and Donald have contributed immensely to the toy industry, and we are pleased to pay tribute to them. Another significant enhancement to our program is the formal acknowledgement that TOTY is a <strong>Toy</strong> <strong>Industry</strong> <strong>Association</strong>administered event in support of the <strong>Toy</strong> <strong>Industry</strong> Foundation (TIF). As the philanthropic arm of the toy industry, TIF brings joy to children through play. Our collective efforts in support of the Foundation help to make a difference in the lives of disadvantaged boys and girls and their families. We express our appreciation to those of you who already support the Foundation, and encourage those of you who are not yet engaged to become active contributors. Tonight is a perfect opportunity to reflect on how fortunate we all are to be in a business where our primary purpose is to help bring the joy of toys and play to kids around the world. Let us enjoy the time together to celebrate the successes of 2010 and to look ahead to a wonderful <strong>Toy</strong> Fair and fantastic 2011! Sincerely, Bryan Stockton Chairman, <strong>Toy</strong> <strong>Industry</strong> <strong>Association</strong>, Inc. Chief Operating Officer, Mattel, Inc. 6 2011 TOTY Tribute Book 7 Dear Friends, Tonight as we celebrate the accomplishments of our industry, I want to thank the many of you that through your generosity made 2010 the most momentous year in <strong>Toy</strong> <strong>Industry</strong> Foundation’s history. It is only through your support of TOTY Tribute Book ads, the Leaders Circle and the <strong>Toy</strong> Bank that we are able to provide toys and play to so many important children’s causes. As your Foundation we’ve been able to serve every branch of the military through our newest partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America Military Services, Play Comforts. With our strategic partner the My Stuff Bags Foundation we grew our annual Do Good Stuff-a-thon volunteer event and helped to send almost 30,000 duffel bags filled with essentials to foster kids around the country. We joined forces with Kids in Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S.) to distribute disaster relief products to Haiti and Tennessee and we continue to bring smiles to patients and their family members at Ronald McDonald Houses throughout North America. In total we distributed more than half a million toys around the world this past year thanks to your support of the <strong>Toy</strong> Bank. This evening you will have the opportunity for the first time to meet all of our philanthropy partners in person. Each of them has a story to tell - from the daughter who is waiting for her father to return home from war, to the sibling who’s afraid that his brother might not ever get well, to the foster child with nothing to call their own. Play matters in every child’s life we’re able to touch thanks to your donations. It is with gratitude and enthusiasm that we acknowledge the generous contributions of the many companies, institutions and individuals, who demonstrate their dedication to our work throughout the year. We hope tonight’s event held by the TIA on behalf of your industry’s Foundation will increase awareness of and support for our efforts so that the <strong>Toy</strong> <strong>Industry</strong> will be able to impact even more children’s lives in 2011 and beyond. Our best wishes for an enjoyable night and a most successful <strong>Toy</strong> Fair. Patrick S. Feely Chairman, <strong>Toy</strong> <strong>Industry</strong> Foundation Retired CEO, Radica Games, Ltd.