Mattel Supports the American Red Cross and Everyday Heroes with Global Giveback Campaign for Matchbox The Movie
October 13, 2026
Mattel Supports the American Red Cross and Everyday Heroes with Global Giveback Campaign forMatchbox The Movie
Film stars John Cena, Jessica Biel, Sam Richardson, Arturo Castro and Teyonah Paris call on fans to offer critical support to people affected by disasters
Matchbox The Movie premieres globally October 9 on Apple TV
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. – October 8, 2026 –Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAT), a leading global play and family entertainment company and owner of one of the most iconic brand portfolios in the world, today announced a global giveback campaign with the American Red Cross celebrating the October 9 streaming debut of Apple Original Films’ Matchbox The Movie.
Matchbox The Movie is an action-comedy adventure inspired by the iconic Matchbox brand. The film follows a group of childhood friends whose reunion takes an unexpected turn when Sean (John Cena), now an undercover CIA agent, returns home and pulls them into a high-stakes international mission. What begins as a reunion quickly becomes a globe-spanning adventure to save the world.
Building on Matchbox’s long history of celebrating the vehicles and everyday people who keep communities moving, Mattel is bringing the brand’s spirit of hands-on action into practice through its Play It Forward platform, which supports children and families in underserved communities, rural areas, and regions impacted by crisis around the world. Through this campaign, Mattel Philanthropy is inviting fans to step up and become everyday heroes by standing with families and communities when disaster strikes by supporting the American Red Cross.
To launch the campaign, the film’s cast—including John Cena (Sean), Jessica Biel (Aimee), Sam Richardson (Crosby), Arturo Castro (Ted), and Teyonah Parris (Charmaine)—recorded a special message encouraging fans to channel their inner hero by showing up for others when it counts most. Starting today, fans can engage via Pledge or text MATCHBOX to 707070 to support the Red Cross’ efforts to provide shelter, food, essential supplies, and other critical support to people affected by disasters.
Nancy Molenda, Vice President of Global Corporate Events and Philanthropy at Mattel, said, “Matchbox has always celebrated the people who step up for their communities, and through our Play It Forward giving platform we’re proud to bring that spirit into the real world alongside the American Red Cross. Together, we’re encouraging fans to become everyday heroes by helping communities recover when they need it most.”
Anne McKeough, Chief Development Officer at the American Red Cross, said, “We’re incredibly grateful to Mattel and the Matchbox team for helping the American Red Cross be there for people when disaster strikes. By celebrating the everyday heroes who step up when others need them most, this partnership reminds us that everyone has the power to make a difference. We’re proud to work alongside Mattel to inspire audiences to join us in supporting communities in times of crisis.”
Matchbox The Moviepremieres October 9 on Apple TV.
Mattel is a leading global play and family entertainment company and owner of one of the most iconic brand portfolios in the world. We engage consumers and fans through our franchise brands, including Barbie®, Hot Wheels®, Fisher-Price®, American Girl®, Thomas & Friends™, UNO®, Masters of the Universe®, Matchbox®, Monster High®, Polly Pocket®, as well as other popular properties that we own or license in partnership with global entertainment companies. Our offerings include toys, content, consumer products, digital and live experiences. Our products are sold in collaboration with the world’s leading retail and ecommerce companies. Since its founding in 1945, Mattel is proud to be a trusted partner in empowering generations to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential. Visit us at mattel.com.
Named Fast Company #2 Most Innovative company, Pledge is the world’s most trusted and #1-rated fundraising platform, powering generosity everywhere. With over $200 million raised for 65,000+ charities in 200+ countries, we partner with leading brands like Mattel, CNN, Zoom, Warner Bros. Discovery, Evite, and Shopify — meeting donors where they are through a donation platform that makes giving seamless across every channel, from mobile and TV to livestreams and beyond. Our AI-powered tools, partnerships and programs like Free the Fee, which pay the card fees, ensure more dollars reach nonprofits, inspiring a new era of generosity.
Daniel Pickett
AFi founder and Editor-In-Chief Daniel “Julius Marx” Pickett has been around toys his whole life. The first line he ever collected was Mego’s World’s Greatest Super Heroes line back in the 70s. He has been surrounded by collectables ever since.
In 1999 he was confounded by a lack of information and news about some of his favorite toy lines he was collecting. Since he couldn’t find the information he decided to pursue it himself thinking other people might also be interested in the same news. He started writing a weekly column on the toy industry and action figure for a toy news site and in a years time he tripled the sites daily traffic with his updates, reviews and product features.
He built relationships with every major toy manufacturer and many sculptors, painters and mold makers. He grew his hobby into a world wide expertise that the industry has embraced.
In 2004 he teamed up with his toy buddy Jason “ToyOtter” Geyer and they created their own website www.ActionFigureInsider.com.
Daniel has been quoted in both industry and mass media press outlets. Over the years Daniel and AFi have been sought out as experts in the field. Daniel was regularly featured on “Attack of the Show” on the G4 network as the primary contributor to their “Mint On Card” segment, and our front page has been linked to from USA Today’s
“Pop Candy” Blog twice. Daniel’s content has also been featured on Bloomberg News, MSNBC.com, Time.com, The Wall Street Journal, The Saturday Evening Post, CNN.com, AssociatedPress.com
Wired.com, Fark.com, Boing-Boing, Gizmodo.com, Ain’t It Cool News, the Official
Star Wars blog, Geekologie, G4, CNet and Toy Fare magazine, among many
others. He has consulted on toy lines, books, documentaries and TV shows.
But all of that really just sounds snooty and “tootin’ his own horn” – the long and short of it is that Daniel loves toys and he LOVES talking about them.
Read other articles by Daniel Pickett.
