cuddle+kind receives Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award 2016
TORONTO, Canada, November 01, 2016 – cuddle+kind is excited to announce that their artisan-made dolls, which each provide 10 meals to children in need, are the recipient of the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award 2016, representing the most innovative, engaging new products of the year.
cuddle+kind’s line of 12 adorable dolls are handcrafted by artisans in Peru. For each doll sold, cuddle+kind provides 10 meals to children in need around the world through their giving partners, World Food Program USA, Children’s Hunger Fund, and most recently, Breakfast Club of Canada. Since September 2015, cuddle+kind has donated over 500,000 meals to children in need and provided over 200 fair-trade jobs to artisans in Peru. They hope to surpass these numbers and achieve their goal of providing one million meals annually. Each doll is ethically produced and helps provide knitters with a sustainable, fair-trade income.
“We are so honoured to receive this prestigious award,” says Derek Woodgate, co-founder of cuddle+kind. “We’ve been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support we’ve received for the giving concept of our dolls. We are so proud to be able to make an impact on childhood hunger around the world.”
cuddle+kind was created by the Woodgates, a young family of five on a mission to help fight childhood hunger. The dolls are handcrafted with premium cotton yarn and each have a signature “1 doll = 10 meals” wristband as well as tags that include the doll’s birthday, personality, and favourite quote. These quotes have been made into inspirational prints, which provide five meals to children in need.
About cuddle+kind
cuddle+kind was founded in 2015 and is based in Toronto, Ontario. Started by Jennifer and Derek Woodgate with their three young children, cuddle+kind was an idea that came to life after the Woodgates learned how many children suffer daily from hunger around the world. cuddle+kind’s “1 doll = 10 meals” philosophy allows them to create a truly sustainable stream of giving with their customers, rather than depending on fundraising. It is cuddle+kind’s mission to give one million meals to children in need annually. To learn more about cuddle+kind, visit the company’s web site (www.cuddleandkind.com) and connect with cuddle+kind on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter.
About the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio (toyportfolio.com)
The Oppenheim Toy Portfolio was founded in 1989 by child development and toy experts, Joanne Oppenheim and her daughter Stephanie Oppenheim. The independent organization does not accept entry fees for reviewing products. Their awards are the benchmark of excellence with consumers, media, and the toy industry. The Oppenheims are Contributors to NBC’s TODAY Show.
Media Contact
Kayla Claus, kclaus@cuddleandkind.com
