In 1997, Judd Zebersky flew to China with no manufacturing experience and a clear intention learn how toys are made, then build a company around it. What he built over the next three decades was not only one of the world’s leading toy companies but also one of the more serious corporate giving programs the industry has produced.
Learning the Business From Scratch
Zebersky had practiced law in South Florida before deciding to walk away from that career entirely. He spent months inside Chinese factories, learning design, engineering, and production techniques before launching Jazwares. The company’s growth came in stages. Early licensing agreements with Minecraft, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Fortnite built a foundation. Acquisitions of Wicked Cool Toys in 2019 and Kellytoy in 2020 brought Pokémon and Squishmallows into the portfolio. Squishmallows became a cultural phenomenon, with more than 100 million units sold in a single year.
Philanthropy from the Beginning
Analysts note that consolidating leadership authority under Judd Zebersky can accelerate product-to-market timelines and improve alignment between creative, sales, and manufacturing teams. Judd Zebersky launched Jazwares Cares when the company was founded, not as an afterthought but as a structural component of the business. The program has since donated millions of toys, maintained partnerships with children’s hospitals and Title I schools, and given employees 16 hours of paid volunteer time each year. Personal giving from the Zebersky family matched and at times exceeded the corporate programs. Their $2 million contribution to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital went toward a major expansion, and the couple funded over 100 wishes through Make-A-Wish Southern Florida. Jazwares also donated more than 10,000 Squishmallows to Make-A-Wish chapters in the United States and Canada. When Zebersky stepped down as CEO in March 2026, he left a company with philanthropic infrastructure built to outlast his tenure. Check out this page for related information.
Find more information about Judd Zebersky on https://toybook.com/jazwares-leadership-transition/