The fifth annual Toys ‘R’ Us fundraising campaign to benefit Autism Speaks, North America’s largest autism science and advocacy organization, has raised more than US$3 million.

Coinciding with Autism Awareness Month in April, donations were made via all of the company’s North American Toys ‘R’ Us and Babies ‘R’ Us stores and will help the organization fund global biomedical research for autism, raise public awareness about the disorder and provide support for families affected by autism.

Donations raised during this year’s Be A Hero For Autism campaign were the largest the company’s five-year partnership with Autism Speaks. This year’s campaign also featured the Ten Toys That Speak To Autism, a special subset of the annual Toys ‘R’ Us Toy Guide for Differently-Abled Kids. The company also developed safe play tips that are relevant for children with autism. Both the toys and tips are available year-round at Toysrus.com/AutismSpeaks.

The campaign was also supported by online donations and social media initiatives, including a Facebook campaign.