Recently we sent boxes of toys to 2 different elementary schools in Utah. The children who participated received two toys each and were challenged to share one of them with somebody else.  A teacher from Red Mountain Elementary wrote saying, “One first-grade class decided to share with a second-grade class. This second-grade class then shared with another second-grade class! Every single first and second grader received a toy car/truck. As I watched students go home from school, they were ecstatic with their Happy Factory toy. Students were running up to me to show me their new treasure with elation! Happy Factory has brought hundreds of smiles to our students.”

Thanks to all who donate their time, talents, supplies or money to help make our non-profit organization a success.

At the Happy Factory our motto is; “We may not be able to make a toy for every child in the world that needs one-but we’re going to try!” Last year Operation Christmas Child reached over 9 million children with gifts hope and relief. We are proud to support this great organization and look forward to continue working with them.

Click on our “How You Can Help” section in the menu to learn more.

The end of the month is a busy time here at the Happy Factory as we prepare to ship out toys!

We greatly appreciate all of the donations and especially the time our volunteers are willing to spend here building these wooden cars and trucks. These toys are not as simple as they may seem. In many cases they are a gift that helps unlock a child’s ability to think and to cope with the world around them. In many more cases they act as therapeutic tools for children suffering from severe physical and emotional problems. In ALL cases they provide a smile!

At the Happy Factory we are SO excited to receive  Thank-you notes with stories of how our toys are helping children in need. Here are a few we want to share with you.

“I do patient registration at our local hospital. One of my coworkers keeps a box of your little wooden cars/trucks in his desk to give out to children. I’ve given out a number of them-most recently the little boy I gave one to was over the moon to get a truck! His face lit up when I handed it to him and it kept him happily occupied while he was with me. He was also polite enough to offer it back when we were through. You can imagine that he was even happier to earn that he got to keep the toy. Thank you so much!!”  -Nicholas

“My grandson had to go to the hospital for some blood tests and was given one of your cars. It made all the difference in his experience at the hospital. It relieved anxiety and fear with joy and curiosity. It comforted my daughter in a scary situation and allowed her to feel of your love. Thank you so much for your kindness. We are thankful for you and the love you are sharing with others”  -Michelle

“We would like to thank you for the box of amazing hand made cars and trucks. It was a blessing to be able to give to each child in our Angel Tree Program. We adopt children during Christmas to help supplement those going through tough times. We had 32 children that were able to receive 3 cars each. We also have been able to hand a few out through our Social Service Office. We appreciate all you do! God Bless!” -The Salvation Army

Many people have asked if The Happy Factory is still up and running with COVID 19 and the answer is YES!

Like everybody else, we have had to learn how to adapt to new procedures because of health restrictions, but work at The Happy Factory continues to move forward allowing us to deliver toys for children throughout the state, country and world.

The Happy Factory is open Monday-Thursday from 9am to 4pm. We are not able to accommodate large groups at this time but individuals are invited to come and participate in the work. If you have any questions feel free to contact us through email or call us at 435-586-8352.

The founder and director of Kids For Christ Ministry located in Gichagi-Ngong, Kenya writes,

“I received a box of 100 toy cars. Our pre-school children were so happy to see those beautiful cars. They really like playing with them. Our children are from very poor families and many of them never had a toy car. They are living in a slum area and life is very difficult. Now they are happy to play with the cars at our school. I am so thankful to receive those toy cars and I thank God for your sacrifice and love towards many children around the world. You are doing an amazing job!”

This is a nice story from a SUU student who had the opportunity to deliver toys to children in the Dominican Republic.

Megan Maxfield

The Happy Factory is having a dinner party and everybody is invited.

It’s Gala time again!  The 15^th annual fundraising gala for The Happy Factory  will be held Thursday, November 9^th in the Ballroom of the Sharwan Smith Center at Southern Utah University at 6:00 PM. The Gala Dinner is the annual fundraising event of the Happy Factory and the broad community support is greatly appreciated by co-founder Donna Cooley.

Southern Utah University is once again, a sponsor of the gala.    We urge everyone to continue their support for the Happy Factory as it continues to make high quality toys for underprivileged and special needs children in Utah, around the country, and around the world.

The Happy Factory is a non-profit charitable organization, founded by Charles and Donna Cooley who to date, has shipped well over 1,440,000 toys in the form of small cars and trucks. There are no paid positions at the Happy Factory. Time, materials, boxes, shipping, and almost everything needed to build a toy is donated to the Happy Factory. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a huge need to raise funds. It takes a substantial amount of funds every year to keep the Happy Factory going. The Happy Factory also makes steam shovels for the developmentally disabled.  The cars and steam shovels are not toys, but tools that can stimulate a child’s mind allowing them to think, become creative, and to cope with the world around them.

The more than one million toys have been delivered to more than 125 countries, to schools, hospitals, family shelters, churches, foundations, and many humanitarians’ organizations around the world.  Anyone can deliver toys during their travels.  Many local individuals have carried toys to children in need.  Many of these children never owned a toy or had anything else of their own before the gift of a Happy Factory toy.

You can assist in continuing the mission of the Happy Factory by attending the Gala, sponsoring part of the evening, and/or contributing an auction item.  You may also bring your skills to the Happy Factory and help make the little wooden cars that are filled with love.  The annual Gala is always an excellent event; reminding us that we are truly blessed and giving us the ability reach out to help others, especially the children of the world.  Many of the volunteers who donate time and talent will be in attendance.  Take the time to discover how you can become a part of the Happy Factory family.

Tickets to the Gala are $50 each or $400 for a table of eight.  If you cannot attend the Gala then a donation of $100 to $200 will create a lovely gift basket that will become a part of the silent auction.  Tickets to the Gala or a donation can be made by calling 435 586-8352 or visiting the Happy Factory located at 896 N 2175 West Circle in Cedar City.  A member of the gala committee will visit your business.

Auction Items will be sold in silent auction formats. Do you have an item or service you would like to contribute? Your generosity will be much appreciated. All local businesses and individuals that would like to contribute an auction item are encouraged to put something together and drop it off at the Happy Factory. These items are essential to the success of the Gala.

Sponsorship levels for the evening are as follows:

Dinner Sponsor, with a donation of $2,500, will receive eight tickets to the gala, special recognition at the Gala and will treasure the blessing that comes from sharing.  This contribution will cover many of the expenses of the evening to allow more of the evening’s contributions to go directly to the manufacture of the toys. They will also receive a matched set of cars and a steam shovel.

Steam Shovel Sponsors, with a donation of $1,500, will receive eight tickets to the Gala, recognition at the Gala, one steam shovel, and will understand the joy of being a benefactor to the Happy Factory allowing the creation of over 3,000 new toys.

Matched Car Set Sponsors, with a donation of $1,000, will receive eight tickets for the Gala, recognition at the Gala, one matched set of toy cars, and will feel gratitude for allowing the making of over 2,000 new toys for children. Auction Sponsors, with a donation of $750 will receive four tickets to the Gala, recognition at the Gala and experience the joy of creating over 1500 new toys for children.

Table Sponsors, with a donation of $400, will receive eight tickets to the Gala, and know the peace of participating in sending cars all over the world and the creation of 800 new toys for children.

Thank you for considering The Happy Factory as a beneficiary of your time, effort and hard-earned money. You may also wish to volunteer to work at the Happy Factory.  You can make a child’s life brighter in many ways.  For more information on the Happy Factory call 435 586-8352 or visit www.happyfactory.org be sure to like The Happy Factory on Facebook.