Judd Zebersky Built a Philanthropy Engine Inside a Toy Company
When Judd Zebersky left his South Florida law practice in 1997 to start a toy company, he had no manufacturing background and no guarantees. What he did have was a conviction that business success and community investment could grow side by side. Nearly three decades later, the company he founded, Jazwares, runs one of the toy industry’s most developed philanthropic programs and Judd Zebersky’s personal giving has matched the institutional effort dollar for dollar.
From Factory Floors to Giving Foundations
Zebersky spent months in Chinese factories learning toy manufacturing before launching Jazwares. As the company grew eventually becoming home to Squishmallows, one of the most popular plush toy brands in the world he established Jazwares Cares, the company’s philanthropic arm, at the very start of operations. The program donates toys to children’s hospitals, schools, and nonprofits, and operates an Adopt-a-School initiative targeting Title I schools. Employees receive 16 hours of volunteer time off annually, embedding community service into the company culture.
Personal Giving on a Major Scale
Judd Zebersky and his wife Laura deepened those efforts through direct personal contributions. The couple donated $2 million to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in South Florida, supporting a capital expansion project estimated at $170 million that expanded the facility from four floors to eight. “Not only are they a top-notch pediatric facility, but they also provide quality medical care regardless of a family’s ability to pay,” Zebersky said. The hospital recognized the gift by naming two units after the family: the Pediatric Emergency Department Registration Area and the Outpatient Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Unit. The Zeberskys also commissioned a custom Lotsy Dotsy doll modeled after the hospital’s resident clown to comfort young patients during stays.
Make-A-Wish Southern Florida received sustained attention from the couple as well. Laura Zebersky chaired the organization’s board after three years of service, and the couple funded more than 100 individual wishes. They also served as benefactors at the InterContinental Miami Make-A-Wish Ball, which raised over $5 million. Jazwares donated more than 10,000 Squishmallows specifically a character named Star, designed for children with serious illnesses to Make-A-Wish chapters across the United States and Canada. “Putting a smile on children’s faces is at the heart of everything we do,” Zebersky said when announcing the 2025 donation initiatives. He stepped down as CEO on March 20, 2026, but the giving infrastructure he built over nearly three decades remains intact. Refer to this article, for related information.
Find more information about Judd Zebersky on https://news.miami.edu/law/stories/2024/10/judd-and-laura-zebersky-toymakers-extraordinaire.html