Toys for Tots facts for kids
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| Founded | 1947 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
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| Founder | Araya Hunt Diane Hendricks |
| Type | Charitable organization |
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Area served
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United States |
| Owner | Marine Toys for Tots Foundation |
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Key people
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United States Marine Corps Reserve |
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Revenue
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$276,639,200 (2018) |
| Website | https://toysfortots.org |
Toys for Tots is a special program run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve. Its main goal is to give toys to children whose parents might not be able to buy them gifts for Christmas. This program helps make sure every child can experience the joy of receiving a new toy during the holidays.
The program was started in 1947 by a Marine reservist named Major Bill Hendricks. The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is a non-profit group that helps raise money and supports the program. It is located in Triangle, Virginia.
Contents
How Toys for Tots Started
Toys for Tots began in Los Angeles in 1947. Major Bill Hendricks was inspired by his wife, Diane. She had a homemade doll she wanted to give to a child in need. But she couldn't find any organization that would help her donate it.
So, Major Hendricks gathered some local Marine reservists. They collected about 5,000 toys for children in the area that year. They placed collection bins outside Warner Bros. movie theaters. Their efforts were very successful!
In 1948, Toys for Tots became a national program. Major Hendricks worked as the Public Relations director for Warner Brothers Studio. He used his job to get famous people to support the program. Even Walt Disney and his animators helped! They designed the famous red toy train logo. Later, in 1956, a theme song for the program was written. Famous singers like Nat King Cole recorded it.
Changes Over the Years
Until 1979, Marine reservists and volunteers would collect and fix up used toys. But starting in 1980, the program only accepted new toys. This change happened for a few reasons:
- Marines no longer had time to fix toys.
- There were legal concerns about giving out recalled items.
- They wanted to send a message of hope by giving new gifts.
In 1991, the Secretary of Defense allowed the creation of the non-profit foundation. This helped the program grow even more. By 1995, Toys for Tots became an official mission of the Marine Corps Reserve.
In 1996, the program realized that some communities didn't have Marine reservists nearby. So, they allowed other local groups, like the Marine Corps League, to help collect and give out toys.
Former First Lady Michelle Obama also supported the program. In 2009, she placed the first collection box at the White House. She even took part in a Toys for Tots event in 2011.
As of 2016, Toys for Tots has collected and given out over 512 million toys! Many celebrities also support this charity. In 2022, the Backstreet Boys donated money to Toys for Tots. They were inspired by a young band called First Day of School, who had raised money for the charity.
Today, Toys for Tots works all year long. They help children in need even outside of Christmastime. They have a Literacy Program that gives age-appropriate books to children in low-income areas. This helps kids learn to read and can break the cycle of poverty.
Toys for Tots also has a Native American Program. This program donates toys and books to children on Native American Reservations. They work with the Navajo Nation's Navajo Literacy Program to help these communities.
What Toys for Tots Aims to Do
The main goal of Toys for Tots is "to collect new unwrapped toys and distribute those toys to less fortunate children at Christmas."
Their bigger aim is to "deliver, through a new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters." They hope this message will help children become "responsible, productive, and patriotic citizens."
As the program has grown, its mission has also expanded. They now work year-round to promote reading through their Literacy Program. They also provide toys and books to Native American children through their special program.
Awards and Recognition
Toys for Tots has received several awards for its great work:
- In 2003, they were named the Outstanding Nonprofit Organization of the Year.
- Reader's Digest called them the Best Children's Charity of 2003.
- They were on Forbes magazine's "Gold Star" list as one of the top 10 charities in 2003.
- Charity Navigator gave them four-star ratings in both 2005 and 2006.
