The Miami-Dade Public Library System and Play It Forward South Florida’s Toy Library aims to make playtime accessible and enriching for all children in our community.
Miami, FL, January 30, 2024 – Play It Forward South Florida Corp., a Florida not-for-profit organization (“Play It Forward”), today announced the launch of its Toy Library program in partnership with the Miami-Dade Public Library System, giving library cardholders access to borrow a wide variety of toy kits from the Main Library, located at 101 West Flagler Street, Miami, FL 33130. The program aims to enrich the playtime experience for all children in Miami-Dade.
The toy kits offered through the Play It Forward Toy Library are meant to encourage open-ended, child-guided play and support development in many areas, including problem-solving, motor, cognitive, and language skills.
The Play It Forward Toy Library program was developed by Abby Peskin, Ph.D., a staff psychologist at the University of Miami and president of Play It Forward, and Alina Farias, Psy.D., a post-doctoral associate at the Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami and Play it Forward’s treasurer. Peskin and Farias both specialize in child psychology and have years of experience conducting play therapy to support the behavioral, social, and emotional goals of children.
“Play is so important for child development,” Peskin said. “I’ve been dreaming of starting a toy library in Miami for years, and it’s finally a reality. I am so excited for the children of Miami to have free access to high-quality toys they can enjoy through the Library, which will also enrich their lives.”
“Being a part of this initiative to increase equitable access to play has been an honor,” Farias said. “Play is how kids learn about the world around them and every toy in our toy kits serves multiple purposes.”
As part of the Play It Forward program, each toy kit is provided in a bag categorized by one of three different age groups: children two years old and under, children three to six years old, and children seven to nine years old. Sourced through donations orchestrated by Play It Forward, the toys include, among others, musical instruments, sensory-friendly toys, dolls and doll houses, building blocks, and action figures, all of which can be browsed through the Miami-Dade Public Library System’s online catalog. Cardholders may borrow one kit per checkout for up to thirty days and the kits may be returned to any branch of the library system. Each kit contains visual reminders of the pieces included so borrowers can ensure all pieces are returned to the library. Once returned, the toys will be cleaned before becoming available for checkout again.
“Play It Forward is excited to continue to grow and expand the toy library in Miami-Dade and hopefully throughout South Florida. We plan to actively engage with the community to encourage toy donations, fundraising, and volunteering to support that goal,” said Win Rutherfurd, secretary of Play It Forward and an associate at global law firm Greenberg Traurig, P.A., who provided pro bono legal advice to help form Play It Forward as a not-for-profit and obtain 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status with the IRS. Rutherfurd continues to support Play It Forward’s legal needs on a pro bono basis.
To learn more about the Play It Forward Toy Library and view kits available for checkout, visit www.mdpls.org/toy-library.
About Play It Forward
Founded in 2021, Play It Forward is a 501(c)(3) non-profit recognized by the IRS, with the mission to increase equity for early developmental play experiences by increasing child access to high-quality, developmentally appropriate toys, and to decrease toy-related waste by sharing toys. Play It Forward believes all children should have access to toys, including adaptive toys that will allow children with disabilities to play, inclusive toys to increase representation for every child, and high-quality toys to support the development of children with neurodivergent ways of learning. To learn more about Play It Forward, including ways to volunteer and donate money or toys, visit https://playitforwardsfl.org/ or on Instagram at @playitforwardsfl.
About Greenberg Traurig
Greenberg Traurig, LLP has more than 2650 attorneys in 47 locations in the United States, Europe and the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia. The firm is a 2022 BTI “Highly Recommended Law Firm” for superior client service and is consistently among the top firms on the Am Law Global 100 and NLJ 500. Greenberg Traurig is Mansfield Rule 6.0 Certified Plus by The Diversity Lab. The firm is recognized for powering its U.S. offices with 100% renewable energy as certified by the Center for Resource Solutions Green-e® Energy program and is a member of the U.S. EPA’s Green Power Partnership Program. The firm is known for its philanthropic giving, innovation, diversity, and pro bono. Web: www.gtlaw.com.
About the Miami-Dade Public Library System
The mission of the Miami-Dade Public Library System (MDPLS) is to provide extraordinary services, spaces, and experiences that promote literacy and learning, personal growth, and limitless opportunities. MDPLS is recognized as an Autism Friendly Partner by the University of Miami-Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities. MDPLS was named a finalist for the prestigious IMLS National Medal for Museum and Library Service in 2022 and 2023 and has been honored with several awards, including 102 National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Awards over the past seven years, an Urban Libraries Council 2020 Innovation Award, and four Florida Library Association (FLA) Awards for Excellence and Innovation from 2018 – 2020. Learn more at www.mdpls.org.
Play It Forward (REGISTRATION#: CH62941) has complied with the registration requirements of Chapter 496, Florida Statutes, the Solicitation of Contributions Act. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.