From Law to Toys Judd Zebersky Builds a Giving Legacy
Judd Zebersky trained as a lawyer at the University of Miami before leaving his practice in 1997 to start Jazwares. He spent months in China learning toy manufacturing firsthand. The company he built grew into the home of Squishmallows, now one of the best-selling toy brands in the world.
That commercial success runs parallel to a giving record that Jude Zebersky built deliberately, starting with Jazwares Cares, the company’s philanthropic arm created at the business’s founding. The program expanded as the company did, encompassing school partnerships, donation programs, and employee volunteer efforts that now operate across multiple countries.
A $2 Million Hospital Commitment
Judd Zebersky’s most substantial personal charitable commitment came through Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, where he and Laura Zebersky donated $2 million toward a major expansion project. The campaign ultimately grew the hospital from four floors to eight as part of a $170 million construction effort. The hospital named the Pediatric Emergency Department Registration Area and the Outpatient Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Unit after the Jude Zebersky family.
The couple also collaborated with the hospital on a product: a custom Lotsy Dotsy doll fashioned after the facility’s resident clown, created to give to children as a source of comfort during hospital visits.
Make-A-Wish and the Star Squishmallow
Make-A-Wish Southern Florida has been a consistent priority for the Zebersky family. Laura Zebersky joined the organization’s board in 2019 and became its chair three years later. The couple funded more than 100 individual wishes and attended the InterContinental Miami Make-A-Wish Ball as benefactors, helping raise over $5 million. Jazwares created Star, a Squishmallow designed for children battling serious illnesses, and donated more than 10,000 units to Make-A-Wish chapters in the U.S. and Canada. Judd Zebersky concluded his tenure as CEO on March 20, 2026. Refer to this page to learn more.
Learn more about Judd Zebersky on https://news.miami.edu/law/stories/2024/10/judd-and-laura-zebersky-toymakers-extraordinaire.html
