Mompreneur launches new toys and program that empowers kids to do good

Chrysti Carol designed Monkeez Makes a Difference to teach children the importance of helping others and giving back through kid-friendly toys and tools including the adorable Genuine Monkeez and Friends™ sock characters, online games, real-life Do Good challenges and a special 10% donation on each child’s behalf to one of three nationally renowned charities of his or her choice. As the mother of two boys, former teacher, children’s book author and writer for educational apps, Chrysti Carol based the program on research that indicates it’s never too early to teach children to think of others and that children should be empowered to explore causes and reach their own decisions about what to support.

While the program is new, it’s already making a big difference: Thanks to retailers’ support of the program not only locally but across the country, Monkeez Makes a Difference recently donated $67,000 based on sales, split equally between Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, Samaritan’s Purse and Best Friends Animal Society. Click here to view a video on Monkeez Makes a Difference featuring Chrysti Carol.

The fun and education starts with the Genuine Monkeez and Friends plush characters featuring special Monkeez Makes a Difference tags, which are available in their online store and at independent retailers locally (including Wonder Works) and across the country. There are more than 100 plush designs in multiple sizes to choose from, including monkeys, owls, bears, lions, dogs, cats, pigs, cows, octopuses, panda bears, kangaroos, turtles, koalas, alligators, hedgehogs, elephants, hippos, zebras, frogs, bunnies and raccoons. Each specially marked character comes with a unique online game activation code on the tag. Suggested retail prices range from $2.99 to $114.99.

With an adult’s help, children follow the instructions on the tag and visit MonkeezAndFriends.com. There, they can enter the code and watch videos about each charity that partners with Monkeez Makes a Difference, including Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, Samaritan’s Purse and Best Friends Animal Society.

Children can select which charity they would like to contribute to, and Monkeez Makes a Difference donates 10 percent of the wholesale cost on their behalf. By selecting the charity of their choice, children unlock the door to an interactive and educational online world. Children can revisit MonkeezAndFriends.com as many times as they’d like to play educational games and learn more about what they can do to help others.

Monkeez Makes a Difference also extends the experience to the local level, helping children to make a difference at home, at school and in their communities every day with Do Good Cards. Available in five different packs, each Do Good Card set contains challenges that consist of simple, but meaningful, tasks, such as, “Today at lunch, look around. Invite a child that is sitting alone to sit with you.” When children have completed each challenge and talked about the experience with their parents, they receive the trading card, which can be redeemed at MonkeezAndFriends.comto make a 10% donation to one of the three charities of their choice and receive incentives to continue making a difference.