Press

"Spreading the joy and bringing a smile to hospitalized children across the country, has been the mission of New Jersey-based toy company: Open the Joy. The toy company, which launched in 2019, manufactures arts and crafts activity kits focused on the well-being and emotional intelligence in kids."

"'I hope the creativity and resilience of these women, and the amazing ways they have found to have real impact, will inspire and energize others as much as they have me,' Burch says. This year's Empowered Women certainly are inspiring: Take, for example, Shalini Samtani...."

"The company has grown significantly [...] and is getting its own fairy tale beginning this summer as it launches in Target! And through their sister non-profit (Spread the Joy) they donate activity kits specifically for hospitalized children in need to their bedside. Amazingly, within just three years, they’ve donated over 10,000 boxes!"

"EQ has played a very important role in my life. [...] Through working with therapists to design activity kits that foster EQ skills in kids, I’ve dedicated countless hours to learning about the benefits of EQ and tirelessly working to create toys that will provide kids with a fun and engaging way to hone those skills."

"They say necessity is the mother of invention and today’s guest is the perfect example. Shalini Shamtani is the founder of Open the Joy, which partners with Spread the Joy Foundation aims to brighten up the lives of kids who are hospitalized and fighting major pediatric illnesses. We do an interview with Samtani to see what it takes to run a up-and-coming toy company"

"During the months I spent at my daughter’s bedside, I was resolved to transform the experience of pediatric hospitalization into a more positive one for families. Working for two years alongside a pediatric psychologist, Open the Joy and Spread the Joy were born with the mission of providing families with the tools required to deal with times of crisis with positivity and creativity. We focus on healing through play."

"Tory Johnson LOVED our products that were shows on Good Morning America's segment "Steals and Deals!" Products featured included our "Would you Rather" cards, Origami kit, Magic kit and Tory's favorite - The Feel Better Bag"

"Samanti is a Tory Burch Fellow as well as on of their Empowered Women this year because of the amazing work she does through [The Spread the Joy Foundation]. The donation she receives as a nominee will help send even more Joy Boxes to pediatric patients in need. “I just feel so humbled that the work we do is being endorsed in such a meaningful way,” she says."

"Allow yourself to go to bed angry. We are often told: “never go to bed angry!” I disagree. On the contrary, EQ emphasizes the importance of self-regulation and awareness. It is crucial to be able to recognize when your emotions are driving your actions and to be able to take a step back and pause. By allowing yourself to go to bed angry, you gain the time to rationally act upon your feelings with a clearer mind in the morning."