Judd Zebersky did not wait for Jazwares to become profitable before making charitable giving part of the company’s identity. He established Jazwares Cares at the company’s founding, embedding philanthropy into Jazwares from its earliest days. Over the years, the organization donated millions of toys to children’s hospitals, Title I schools, and nonprofits including Make-A-Wish, Toys for Tots, and Ronald McDonald House.

That commitment to giving extended to personal philanthropy as well. Judd Zebersky and his family contributed $2 million to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital and have been consistent supporters of Make-A-Wish Southern Florida. For Zebersky, the work was not separate from building the business but connected to why he believed the business existed in the first place.

Recognition Followed Results

The philanthropic record was just one dimension of how Jazwares earned recognition under Judd Zebersky’s leadership. The company appeared on TIME’s Most Influential Companies list, was named among Fast Company’s Best Workplaces for Innovators, and received a Fortune Best Workplaces in Manufacturing and Production designation. Zebersky himself received the South Florida Business Journal’s Ultimate CEOs award in 2024 and was included on The Business Report’s Top 50 Entrepreneurs list in 2023.

Jazwares grew significantly under his direction. Founded after Zebersky left a law career to learn toy manufacturing in Chinese factories, the company expanded through licensing deals with Minecraft, Sonic the Hedgehog, Fortnite, and Pokémon, then built further through the acquisitions of Wicked Cool Toys in 2019 and Kellytoy in 2020. Kellytoy brought Squishmallows into the Jazwares portfolio.

The Squishmallows brand became a viral sensation, with more than 100 million units sold in a single year and celebrity fans including Lady Gaga and Kim Kardashian. When Judd Zebersky stepped down as CEO on March 20, 2026, after nearly 30 years, Jazwares had grown to employ approximately 1,400 people and distribute products across more than 100 countries. Refer to this page to learn more.

Learn more about Judd Zebersky on https://jazwares.uk/about-us/leadership