MALIBU, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The May 12, 2008 earthquake in China and Myanmar hit close to home for leading U.S. toymaker JAKKS Pacific. Malibu-based JAKKS has hundreds of employees based in China in addition to thousands of factory employees affiliated with the Company who were affected by the recent disaster. JAKKS Pacific President and COO, Stephen Berman, presented a check in the amount of $54,000 United States Dollars ($421,832 Hong Kong Dollars) to American Red Cross CEO, Paul Schulz, while 100+ Malibu-based JAKKS employees looked on holding pink hearts symbolic of their donations made in support of in the Red Cross China Relief Fund.

Source: JAKKS Pacific
·  View Multimedia Gallery

JAKKS Pacific’s U.S. and Hong Kong employees rallied together and generously raised $27,000 to help support children and families affected by the natural disaster. As part of the JAKKS Cares philanthropic giving program, JAKKS matched each dollar donated, resulting in a total contribution of $54,000 to support relief efforts of the Red Cross Society of China.

The funds will be used to assist China’s earthquake survivors through the purchase and distribution of relief supplies, coordination of logistics and transportation of disaster workers to the hardest hit areas, as well as reconstruction work in mainland China and Myanmar.

“The American Red Cross is grateful for this show of support from JAKKS Pacific. With the assistance of JAKKS’ latest gift, the American Red Cross is helping with the China earthquake relief and recovery efforts,” said Paul Schulz, Greater Los Angeles Red Cross CEO. “The American Red Cross has committed a total of $20 million for much-needed supplies, technical assistance, and other support to assist the 15 million earthquake survivors in China.”

JAKKS Cares is the philanthropic division of leading U.S. toymaker JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (NASDAQ:JAKK - News). Through JAKKS Cares™ initiatives, the Company utilizes JAKKS’ powerful resources and inspired employees to assist needy children, families and even pets around the world. JAKKS is strongly committed to being a philanthropic and socially responsible corporate citizen and to creating changes that will improve the lives and well-being of children for generations to come. JAKKS Cares activities also implement ways to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle to help preserve our planet. Since inception, JAKKS Cares has donated more than $20 million in toys, school supplies and monetary endowments to millions of underprivileged children around the world. In the end, the most important aspect of the JAKKS Cares program is to help children smile, play and succeed.

For further information, visit www.jakks.com.

MULTIMEDIA AVAILABLE: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=5756564