Children’s Hospital Drives

Several times a year we deliver sets of Toki Poki® Pet Trading Cards to Children’s Hospitals nationwide. Look through the posts to learn more about our contests and PAWtners. If you’re a hospital and you would like to receive our cards, look for the Hospital Signup form in the bottom of the website.

05/17/13

Toki Poki Hospital Donation Recognized

Rady Children's Hospital

 

 

Dear Ms. Myhre:

Thank you for your recent donation of 100 packs of 10-card Toki Poki pet cards to Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego. Please extend our thanks to everyone who helped to make this special donation possible. Your generosity and compassion will touch the lives of the children and families in our care.

Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego, the largest children’s hospital in California, is a 464-bed pediatric-care facility providing the largest source of comprehensive pediatric medical services in San Diego, Southern Riverside and Imperial counties. Last year Rady Children’s cared for more than 155,000 children in our community.

Being treated at a hospital can be a scary experience for kids and their families. Contributions like yours help kids to keep busy and focus on something fun and entertaining. Your donation will surely bring smiles to the faces of many of our young patients.

Through your generosity, you are helping us to create a place of healing and hope for the kids in our community. We are grateful that you have chosen to help us brighten their days as we provide the specialized care that is vital to children and families who rely on us for care.

On behalf of all of us at Rady Children’s, thank you for your thoughtfulness.

Sincerely,

Carol D. Damon-Scherer
Interim Senior Vice President
and Executive Director

04/09/13

Send Some Summer Luv to Children’s Hospitals

Toki Poki Summer Luv'n Pet Trading Card

SPRING has sprung and SUMMER is coming!

This year, we’ve created our Summer Luv’n pet trading card series.  All cards ordered will be included in the May delivery to at least 19 Children’s Hospitals nationwide.

If you want to participate, there are several ways you can…

1. If you’re already a Toki Poki member, Create a Summer Luv’n Trading Card of your Pet! (If your pet’s not a member yet, join here for free before creating a card). Your pet’s trading card will be custom-designed by Lee Ann Engle and Toki’s Mommy! After placing your order, click the link in your order confirmation email to complete the trading card information form. You will receive your choice of 50 or 100 of your pet’s Summer Luv’n card and approx. 2500 of your pet’s trading card will be included with the delivery to the children’s hospitals in May.

2. Purchase a Summer Luv’n Pack for yourself, your kids or as a gift. The proceeds are helping us to make the deliveries to the kids in the hospitals possible…and you get to enjoy the cards as well!

3. If you know a Children’s Hospital that would like to receive the cards, please have them complete the Children’s Hospital Signup Form.

4. Tell all of your friends and join us on Facebook

Toki Poki Summer Luv'n Pet Trading Card

And check out the Summer Luv’n Gallery!

01/17/13

Valentine’s Day Love Drive 2013

Oliver P. Smoochie

It’s time for our 3rd annual LOVE DRIVE to deliver Valentine’s to the Children’s Hospital’s that receive our cards.

If you want to participate, there are several ways you can…

1. If you’re already a Toki Poki member, Create a Valentine’s Day Trading Card of your Pet! (If your pet’s not a member yet, join here for free before creating a card). Your pet’s trading card will be custom-designed by Toki’s mom!  After placing your order, click the link in your order confirmation email to complete the trading card information form.  You will receive your choice of 50 or 100 of your pet’s Valentine’s Day Card and your pet will be included with the delivery to the children’s hospitals on Valentine’s Day.

2. Purchase a Valentine’s Day Pack for yourself or your kids to give out. The proceeds are helping us to make the deliveries to the kids in the hospitals possible…and you get to enjoy the cards as well!

3. If you know a Children’s Hospital that would like to receive the cards, please have them complete the Children’s Hospital Signup Form.

4. Tell all of your friends and join us on Facebook

Jake & Elwood

(Check out the collections from 2011 and 2012)

01/17/13

How to be a part of the 2013 LOVE DRIVE

Toki Poki Valentine's Day Love Drive

  • Step 1.   If you are not already a member, join for free >www.tokipoki.com/join
  • Step 2.   Make a VALENTINES card after you join > www.tokipoki.com/vday-card
  • Step 3.   Wait for your cards to arrive in the mail !
  • Step 4.   You & your pet get EXTRA treats for making so many kids smile this Valentine’s Day!  THANK YOU!
10/26/12

Meet 2012 Howl-0-Ween Contest Judge Les Bonser

Our 5th and final judge for the Toki Poki Howl-o-Ween Costume Contest is Les Bonser. Les is the owner of Ody (member #274) and Smokey (member #264).

We met Les a couple of years ago at the “No More Homeless Pets” conference in Las Vegas. Below is a letter Les sent to us, which just strengthens all the reasons we continue to do the Children’s Hospital deliveries each year. Thank you Les for taking the time to write us this letter!

Letter to Toki Poki

 

Boy, that was tougher than I thought! So many cute costumes!

I’m doggy dad to Smokey Poodle (now in doggy heaven–he’s an angel that watches over us), Ody Maltese, and Peanut Yorkie. We live in Las Vegas and first learned of Toki Poki at the vendors exhibit at a trade conference a couple years ago. The idea for pet trading cards was just so cute and obvious, I kicked myself for not thinking of it myself!

I think donating the cards to childrens hospitals is a great idea! I was born crippled in my hands and feet, and had many surgeries as a child. I don’t remember all of them, but I do remember having surgery on both feet the summer I turned 12. I was a patient at the Shriner’s Hospital for Crippled Children in Salt Lake City. I was there a total of 14 weeks.

The time at the hospital was rough. Being away from my family, being cooped up indoors the whole summer, being in pain first from the surgery and then from the physical therapy as I learned how to walk again. But looking back on it, as an adult with over 50 years of life experience as a filter, it was eye-opening and very humbling. As bad as I had it, there were many kids there that had much worse. I always walked funny, but there were kids there that couldn’t walk at all. I always had kids in school tease me because my hands looked “weird” and my fingers were curled up. At the hospital, I met kids that didn’t have any fingers.

I learned that no matter what challenges life brings you, they are not as large as the challenges others may have. And what’s important is not how large the challenges are, but by how you face them.

It’s been an honor to help Toki Poki with their efforts bringing a little joy to children in hospitals around the US. Keep up the good work!

~Les

10/25/12

Meet 2012 Howl-0-Ween Contest Judge Lisa Taron (aka The Pet Book Lady)

Have you ever heard of Heritage Makers, the online printing and digital scrapbooking company? Lisa Taron is one of the Founding Directors (Independent Consultant).

The Pet Book LadyShe started blogging in 2007 as a way to promote her business, featuring product ideas and inspiring people to capture their stories, many of whom were creating projects about their beloved pets.

One day Lisa received a phone call from a lady in New York City, asking if she was “The Pet Book Lady”. Well…… The name totally resonated with Lisa and she has called herself that ever since! And which is also the name of her blog.

Lisa, The Pet Book Lady, has two major passions:

  • One is the incredible bond that people have with their pets and animals in general, and her blog stories and features celebrate that bond.
  • The other passion is to recognize and support enthusiastic pet-loving entrepreneurs who have pet products and services that she believes in.

Lisa’s writing partner, editor and toughest critic is her Bichon Frise Oscar (member #534).  Oscar is also an award winner… he’s a Gold Medalist in Mooching!

10/24/12

Meet 2012 Howl-0-Ween Contest Judge Cathy Vaughan

In 1998, Cathy Vaughan and co-owner Phillip Vaughan founded Cathy’s Critter Care pet-sitting service. The business was a huge success and continued to rapidly grow during it’s first decade. With over 500 happy pet-sitting clients in the community, it’s no wonder that Cathy is also the author of the book “How to Start a Home-Based Pet-Sitting & Dog-Walking Business“, a guide to creating your own successful pet business.

There was still an obvious void to fill for the needs of those clients whose pets could not stay at home, so in 2008, Cathy and Phillip joined forces with Cynthia Gibson to create the Bluebonnet Bunk’n Biscuit.

Cathy's Critter Care / Bluebonnet Bunk 'n BiscuitThe Bluebonnet Bunk’n Biscuit is the realization of a decade long dream to provide quality, pet supportive boarding, exercise and interaction for the San Antonio community with the belief that the human-pet bond is one that should be nurtured to maximize the benefits to both human and pet.

And of course behind every successful businessperson, there is… a DOG! The business’ mascot Rugby (member #608) has the important duties of looking cute, making all the customers say “awww!” and running the very important “Pet My Head” department.

 

10/23/12

Meet 2012 Howl-o-Ween Contest Judge Carol Bryant

Toki Poki met Carol Bryant at their first BLOG PAWS conference in Denver, CO. September 2010… and we’ve been a huge fan ever since! If you travel with your pet or like to keep up with the latest in products, please LIKE Carol’s Facebook page and follow her blog, Fidose of Reality.

Carol’s cocker spaniel, Dexter, has a HUGE event coming up in 2013… you won’t want to miss it!

Fidoseofreality.com - Wigglebutt Wedding

About Fidose of Reality:

Fidose of Reality is a canine-centric online magazine dog blog where dog lovers of the highest order unite.™

fidose of realityFrom dog news to dog travels, the latest in canine health and wellness, dog fashion and finds, and haute pet products for cool dogs, Fidose of Reality covers it. Coupling our 20 years of dog travel with a passion and penchant for pet products, our hearts beat dog.™

We travel the country and network with pet product experts, veterinarians, pet industry experts, and those in the know as a part of our continuing commitment to growing Fidose of Reality into the one of the ultimate online destinations for all things dog-related.

A little bit about Fidose of Reality’s founder and CEO: “A dog lover of the highest order,” is how Gayle King introduced Carol Bryant when she and her Cocker Spaniel appeared on Oprah Radio’s Gayle King show to dish dogs. A frequent media contributor, Carol has appeared on television, radio, and in print.

As guest speaker at conferences and seminars about dog products and travel, she also has a passion for growing social media and helped one client land the “best dog blog” honor. A repeat nominee from the Dog Writers Association of America and writer for Dogster, Carol also works with BlogPaws pet blogger social media community and conferences and is engaged in Public Relations and social media as a pet product and pet travel expert.

Got a topic idea or something worth nosing into? Drop us line at fidoseofreality@gmail.com. All inquiries will be read.

10/22/12

Meet 2012 Howl-0-Ween Contest Judge Ryan Agnew from Rhode Island

Hi Christy and Toki,

I hope you are doing well. I am doing fine. I’ve grown 5 inches since I’ve last seen you. I also started to play soccer again (hopefully hockey soon as well) and basketball. I’ve started the eighth grade in high honors classes. I hope you can visit soon or we can visit you sometime in the future. See “ya’ll” later! My Texas lingo isn’t quite what it used to be!

Thank you for asking me to be a judge in this year’s Howloween Costume Contest!
– Ryan

Those of you that remember how Toki Poki® got involved with Children’s Hospitals will also remember Ryan Agnew who received a liver transplant the year before he was introduced to Toki Poki®. Ryan is the owner of Bailey the Beagle (member #68) and Foster the Bunny (member #79). If you’re not familiar, it’s a great story of how pets on opposite sides of the country met and came together for a great purpose!

Ryan is now 13 and doing well.  Please read our BLOG post from 10/10/2010 > Why the Boston went to Rhode Island to meet the Beagle, the Bunny and the Boy.

Howloween Judge Ryan Agnew
August 2010
– Ryan (left) and friend Patrick with Sergeant Toki
on the Warwick, Rhode Island Fire Department Engine #11

Bailey, Foster and Toki
Bailey & Foster <<|>> Toki & Bailey

09/06/12

Hasbro and Shriners Children’s Hospital receive their Feelings & Faces Cards!

Hasbro Children's Hospital 2012

Shriners Hospital Los Angeles 2012

Check out the Feelings & Faces Collection for Summer 2012. Please help support the continued effort to create and deliver cards for the hospitals by purchasing a pack of pet trading cards.