TIF gives $35K to SMA group

By Staff -- Playthings, 4/7/2008 1:13:00 PM

NEW YORK—The Toy Industry Foundation has awarded FightSMA, a non-profit involved in finding a cure for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), with a $35,000 grant to be used to sponsor a day-long workshop for mothers fighting diseases and health challenges that face their children.

The grant and event sponsorship is the first time that the Toy Industry Foundation has worked with FightSMA. The workshop will provide parents of children with SMA “a ‘fighting’ attitude as well as the motivation and tools to more actively advocate for their children,” according to TIF.

“The Toy Industry Foundation is delighted to work with Fight SMA to sponsor an event that provides new insights to parents of children with special needs,” said Jean Butler, executive director of the Toy Industry Foundation. “Both organizations have gathered experts from relevant fields to serve as resources to parents who want to do what’s best for their child and may not know exactly what that is.”

The workshop will take place on Friday, May 9, at the New York Palace Hotel in New York City. As part of the event, TIF has organized a panel of experts to discuss the lifelong benefits of play for special needs children confined by physical and developmental barriers as well as a review of Let’s Play: A Guide to Toys for Children with Special Needs, published by TIF.

CNN journalist Catherine Crier will also be on hand to speak about women’s empowerment, hope and leadership. Additional presentations will cover related topics including motivating volunteers to advocacy and fundraising strategies.

Based in Richmond, Va., FightSMA has chapters in 19 U.S. and Canadian cities. Spinal muscular atrophy is said to be one of the leading genetic causes of infant deaths.

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