Toys for Tots was founded in 1947 by Colonel William Hendricks to collect toys for children in need. The program’s goal is to bring joy to America’s children during Christmas. It now only accepts new toys and has a foundation to support its goals. Marines distribute the toys in full uniform.
Toys for Tots was founded in 1947 by Colonel William Hendricks of the United States Marine Corps Reserve. The official version is that the colonel’s wife made a doll for children and gave it to her husband to pass it on to an organization that collects toys for children in need. When Hendricks couldn’t find such an organization in Los Angeles, he started his own, collecting toys for over 5,000 families in the first year with the help of other reservists. The Marine Corps was inspired by the program and made it national in 1948.
The program’s stated goal is to “bring the joy of Christmas to America’s children in need.” Since its inception, Toys for Tots has achieved this with groundbreaking success, supported by the Walt Disney Company and a variety of celebrities. Many organizations across America support toy drives during the Christmas season, with collection points in department stores, supermarkets, libraries and schools. Motorcycle clubs are often active in these gatherings, providing an example of the widely disparate groups that support the mission.
Until 1980, Toys for Tots accepted both new and used toys, refurbishing used toys and donating them to appreciative families. Growing concerns about the safety of distributing used toys, especially those manufactured before the 1970s that may contain lead and other toxic substances, combined with a growing demand from the Marine Corps, has caused the organization to request only new toys. Toys for Tots also felt that distributing second hand toys was not encouraging or uplifting and that children would benefit more from new toys.
The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation was established in 1991 to support the Corps in their goals. Supplements Marines-made collections, distributes promotional and support materials, provides a point for deductible cash donations, works with businesses to promote toy collections, and ensures that the group is fully compliant with Internal Revenue Service (IRS) standards. ). Donors can deliver toys to a variety of locations around the world and can also donate money, time or used vehicles to the foundation. The toys may be requested by agencies, teachers or individuals who see children in need. Marines who distribute toys often participate in full uniform.
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