Colossal, an industry leader in professional fundraising and the pioneer of purpose-driven online competitions, found the perfect, pint-sized champion for their latest campaign, Toddler of the Year! In partnership with Toys for Tots®, the inaugural competition sparked an incredible wave of generosity, raising $12,776,869 to support the organization’s mission of delivering hope and joy to children in need across the nation. Colossal is proud to stand alongside Toys for Tots in helping make the holidays brighter for families nationwide.
After months of adorable moments and incredible stories, the Toddler of Year champion, Dominik Gergely, has been crowned! Domi and his parents are celebrating with a robust prize package including $25,000, a national ad campaign, a family trip to a Peppa Pig Theme Park, and the honor of being the Junior Grand Marshal of the Hollywood Christmas Parade!
Meet Toddler of the Year Domi
Domi is a 3-year-old boy with a joyful, expressive personality and a true zest for life, making him an excellent choice to lead the Hollywood Christmas Parade. Off-stage, this sunshine-filled boy is always ready to offer smiles and assistance to his family. A proud big brother, Domi has a naturally caring and gentle nature toward his baby sister. His mothers, Micah and Dominika, nurture his kind demeanor and curiosity in life. Dominika (“Hata”) is from Hungary and moved to the U.S. on a basketball scholarship at age 16. Micah (“Mommy”) is from New Jersey, where she worked in insurance when the two met online. Micah “swiped right” first but Dominika sent the first message that led to their marriage.
The result of this match is a beautiful, bilingual boy who can easily switch from English to Hungarian without missing a beat. Even though Domi is only a toddler, his passport is already colorfully stamped, partly thanks to two of his grandparents living in Hungary and his parents leading a jet-setting lifestyle. They say Domi just goes with the flow.
Domi charms the crowd at the Christmas Hollywood Parade
As Toddler of the Year, Domi had the honor of being the Junior Grand Marshal of the 93rd Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade alongside celebrities Luke Wilson, Anthony Anderson, and more. He and his moms waved at the crowd from the backseat of a red convertible, stopping at the red carpet to receive the plaque honoring him as the Toddler Junior Grand Marshal. To this sweet little boy’s credit, he handled the spotlight like a pro and even said “Merry Christmas!” into the microphone to the crowd’s delight. Core memory unlocked!
A true “boy’s boy,” Domi’s favorite part of the experience was checking out the cars before the parade and getting to sit in Tow Mater and Lightning McQueen from his favorite movie, Cars. For his parents, seeing their bright-eyed boy shine his big smile to the world was truly unforgettable. From Spider-Man birthdays to the red carpet, this kid is showing the world just how big little hearts can be.
Toddler of the Year supports Toys for Tots
Toddler of the Year is an online competition that serves as a fundraiser for Toys for Tots, a 78-year National Charitable Program run by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve that provides year-round joy, comfort, and hope to economically disadvantaged children across the nation through the gift of a new toy or book.
Colossal
Colossal is a nationally registered professional fundraiser that inspires people to advocate for themselves and those in need. Through online competitions, participants have the opportunity to make their mark while also making a big impact. Colossal competitions serve as fundraising campaigns for DTCare, a United States 501(c)(3) public charity organization, which then grants donation funds to specified charities at the completion of the competitions. Learn more at colossal.org. Who’s Next?
FAQ
Why do charities work with Colossal?
Charities around the world struggle to raise enough money year-round to carry out and expand their missions. Fundraisers can be extremely expensive to operate, and many non-profit organizations lack the funds to staff, publicize, operate, and run highly effective campaigns. So they turn to professional fundraisers like Colossal, who takes the responsibility of staffing, publicizing, and facilitating the fundraiser so that the charity can focus on their mission.
How do Colossal competitions work?
Colossal partners with a variety of brands, publications, influencers and charities to develop amazing prize packages for our competitions. Interested people sign up and are vetted to make sure they are real humans and good candidates for the competition. People vote for their favorite, and the competitor with the most votes in the final round wins!
How can I get involved?
Whether you are an aspiring Colossal champion or you’re hoping to sponsor an experience or become a partner, there is opportunity for you. Visit colossal.org to learn more about our existing competitions and how they could impact your life, business, or charity. It doesn’t get any better than this when it comes to advertising and advocacy.
