The Wink Alliance

 

 

Last Updated: October 19, 2023!

 

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A Brief History!

Named for our famous shop dog Wink, the Wink Alliance is the official giving arm of Gingerbread House Toys!

 

 

We love giving back to the community by partnering with organizations that help kids! But rather than spread our giving too thin among dozens of causes, The Wink Alliance strategy is to select one local non-profit every year and rally around their mission! We become their "ally" by supporting them through the sale of limited edition, co-branded Wink collectibles during the holiday season!

 

Since our inaugural campaign in 2020, you’ve helped us give $38,750 in combined donations to Marcfirst, the Child Protection Network, and Special Olympics Illinois! Now it’s time to make a massive impact for another kid-focused organization in our community...

 

 

Our 2023 Wink Alliance Partner is...!

We're thrilled to announce that, this year, we're allying with...The Baby Fold!

 

 

The Baby Fold has been successfully wrapping services around children and families since 1902. Offering life-critical support such as adoption support, foster care, special education, and early childhood programming, The Baby Fold is a unique resource with a strong and enduring heritage. They care for our youngest citizens so they can be blessed with loving homes, stable lives, and the futures they deserve.

 

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NEW 2023 Wink Stuffies!

And you can help us make a huge donation to The Baby Fold by buying one of these new Wink Stuffies!

 

 

 

  

 

 

This year's batch of Winks might be the best yet! He’s sooo soft, super cute, and he's keeping warm with a Baby Fold bandana around his collar! Best of all, in a Jellycat-style, he’s flexible and relaxed so he can stretch out and lay down…just like the real Wink!

 

 

 

Buy Your Wink Stuffy Before They Sell Out!

All proceeds benefit The Baby Fold!

 

Each custom-made Wink is only $25, and starting October 19, 2023, they're available in-store at Gingerbread House Toys and online at shop.gingerbreadhousetoys.com

 

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Buy Wink Now!

 

 

 

Previous Alliances!

 

2022: Special Olympics Illinois

The Wink Alliance gives $12,500!

 

 

 

 

 

FUN news! 2022's Wink Alliance kicked-off during our 50th Anniversary, and throughout the rest of the year, you came through in a big way! Because of your awesome generosity & support, the custom-designed Wink tins of Crazy Aaron's Thinking Putty raised $12,500 for Special Olympics Illinois!

 

It was an honor to present this BIG check to the athletes themselves! Thank you from Wink and all of us at Gingerbread House Toys for helping make our community a better place! You've now helped us donate almost $39,000 in the last 3 years!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2021: Child Protection Network

The Wink Alliance gives $12,500!

 

For the 2021 holiday season, Gingerbread House Toys supported  Child Protection Network through the sale of custom Wink stuffies wearing a CPN Christmas Sweater Vest with their logo in a snow globe. With the help and generosity of our customers and the community, we were able to donate $12,500 to CPN!

 

 

 

2020: Marcfirst

The Wink Alliance gives $13,750!

 

For the 2020 holiday season, the Wink Alliance kicked-off as Gingerbread House Toys supported Marcfirst to help them achieve their vision to become a bridge to our community, where all people can pursue and achieve their dreams throughout their lives!

 

The Wink Clone Machines (aka our amazing friends at Stuffed Animal Pros) assembled an amazing litter of Winks that were the heart of soul of our giving this past season! Through the sale of these limited edition items, and your amazing generosity and support, Marcfirst  received all of the proceeds totalling $13,750! They used it toward new equipment in the Motor Gym at the Gregg Chadwick Marcfirst Pediatric Therapy Center and continue to support local families through development and therapeutic support for children. You can read more details on our blog post from earlier this year, or watch the announcment video below.

 

 

 

Support the Wink Alliance

Volunteer with our alliance partners like Marcfirst, Child Protection Network, and Special Olympics Illinois! As a friend of Gingerbread House Toys, one of the most impactful things you can do is give your time to the community and those who call it home.

 

Do you have a story to share how Marcfirst, CPN, Special Olympics Illinois, or Gingerbread House Toys helped someone you love? Let us know and we can help spread the word about the great work these allies do in our community to help families thrive.

 

Do you know an organization that would be perfect for the Wink Alliance? Each year, one new organization will be selected, and a new Wink stuffy will be reimagined with a few variations including the logo of the new organization! This allows us to create awareness and lasting impact for both non-profits and the Wink Alliance!

 

If you'd like to nominate a local non-profit who focuses on the needs of children, please fill out this form and let us know!

 

 

Play more! Grow more!

And you helped us GIVE MORE than EVER before

with the Wink Alliance!

 

 

Wink Alliance Logo