Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment (WiT) announced that the in-person event for its Wonder Women Awards, originally set for Feb. 20, will be canceled due to the cancellation of Toy Fair New York and concerns over COVID-19. Instead, the organization will announce winners on March 1 via press release, and shortly thereafter, will deliver a “Wonder Women at Home” experience to winners and honorees, with a tribute video to follow.
“While our event may look different this year, we are committed to championing trailblazers at this year’s Wonder Women Awards and thank our community and WiT’s generous sponsors and hands-on partners who have been incredibly supportive as we’ve needed to swiftly pivot our plans,” Genna Rosenberg and Jennifer Caveza, co-chairs, Wonder Women Awards say in a joint statement. “We look forward to sharing footage of the winners and honorees in a special tribute video, and also celebrate WiT’s 30th Anniversary at regional in-person events later in the year when it’s safer to do so.”
WiT also announced its 2022 Wonder Women Awards Honorees:
- Amazon as WiT Retailer of the Year, accepted by Anne Carrihill, director, toys and entertainment
- JoJo Siwa will receive a WiT Icon Award
- Steven Wolfe Pereira, chief executive officer, Encantos, will receive WiT’s Changemaker Award
“Although our live event has been canceled, we look forward to shining a spotlight on our incredible Wonder Women, honorees and scholarship recipients for their outstanding achievements,” says Janice Ross, president, Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment. “It’s more important than ever to celebrate these extraordinary leaders in our industry who continued to make a monumental impact, even during continuing challenging times.”