Ten Years After Horst Brandstätter’s Passing: Playmobil Foundation and Group Honor His Enduring Legacy

On June 3, 2025, the toy industry marks the tenth anniversary of the passing of Horst Brandstätter, the visionary entrepreneur behind Playmobil and founder of the Playmobil Children's Foundation. Both the Horst Brandstätter Group and the foundation’s board, employees, and partners are commemorating his lasting impact on the toy sector and his dedication to children’s welfare.

Brandstätter, who launched the Playmobil brand in 1974, transformed it into a global icon, with nearly four billion figures populating children’s rooms worldwide. Beyond his business achievements, he established the Playmobil Children's Foundation in 1995, aiming to support the healthy physical, mental, and emotional development of children and young people. The foundation’s work spans education, creativity, activity, and protection, with more than €30 million invested in projects over the past 20 years.

A significant portion of the foundation’s support comes in the form of in-kind donations, such as Playmobil play equipment for kindergartens, schools, and clinics. In 2024 alone, the foundation donated €1 million to organizations like UNICEF, Save the Children, and Ein Herz für Kinder.

Notable initiatives include the “Active Ships” and “Arks”—large play structures designed for outdoor use in child care facilities—and the “Sprachbuddies” program, where student volunteers help foster language skills in kindergartens. The foundation also responds flexibly to societal challenges, as seen in the opening of the “Amalie Nathan House” in Fürth, a child protection center supporting victims of abuse.

To further honor Brandstätter’s legacy, the foundation introduced the “Hob Prize” in 2023, awarding €250,000 annually to schools for outstanding projects in activity, movement, and social competence.

Horst Brandstätter was known not only for his entrepreneurial spirit but also for his deep sense of social responsibility and his commitment to children’s happiness and development. His vision and values continue to shape both the Playmobil brand and the foundation’s charitable work, ensuring that his legacy endures in the toy industry and beyond.

Contact:
Playmobil Children’s Foundation
Brandstätterstr. 2-10, 90513 Zirndorf, Germany
pr@kinderstiftung-playmobil.de
www.kinderstiftung-playmobil.de