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| Founded | 1947; 79 years ago (1947) Los Angeles,California, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Founder | Araya Hunt Diane Hendricks |
| Type | Charitable organization |
| Location |
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Area served | United States |
| Owner | Marine Toys for Tots Foundation |
Key people | United States Marine Corps Reserve |
| Revenue | $276,639,200 (2018)[1] |
| Website | https://toysfortots.org |
Toys for Tots is a program run by theUnited States Marine Corps Reserve which distributestoys to children whose parents cannot afford to buy them gifts forChristmas. It was founded in 1947 by reservistMajorBill Hendricks.[2]
TheMarine Toys for Tots Foundation, a501(c)(3) not-for-profit public charity located inTriangle, Virginia, funds, raise funds for, and supports the program.
A Canadian branch of Toys for Tots is based inLondon, Ontario, and is run by veterans and serving members of theCanadian Armed Forces.[3]
Toys for Tots began as aLos Angelescharitable effort in 1947. Major Bill Hendricks, USMCR, was inspired by his wife Diane when she tried to donate a homemadeRaggedy Ann doll to a needy child but could not find any organization to do so. At her suggestion, he gathered a group of local Marine reservists, includingLieutenant ColonelJohn Hampton,[4] who coordinated and collected some 5,000 toys for local children that year from collection bins placed outside Warner Bros.movie theaters. Jon B. Riffel also helped found the organization.[4] Their efforts were successful. In 1948, a feasibility report for the Marines using it as a national public relations and recruitment tool was written by Maj. Donald G Clarke USMCR. Toys For Tots was launched as a national campaign. Hendricks used his position as director of Public Relations forWarner Brothers Studio to enlist celebrity support, as well as haveWalt Disney and hisanimators design the redtoy trainlogo.[5][2][6] A theme song for the program was written in 1956 bySammy Fain andPaul Francis Webster, and would be recorded byNat King Cole,Jo Stafford,Peggy Lee, among others.[7]
Until 1979, Marine reservists (frequently in theirdress blue uniforms) and volunteers would collect and refurbish used toys. In 1980, only new toys were accepted, as reservists were no longer able to dedicate drill hours to refurbishing toys, as well as legal concerns, to prevent the accidental giving ofrecalled items, and the mixed message of givinghand-me-downs as a message of hope.[2]
In 1991, theSecretary of Defense authorized the creation and affiliation with thenonprofit charity foundation. In 1995, the Secretary of Defense approved Toys for Tots as an official mission of the Marine Corps Reserve.[8]
Noting in 1996 that many communities did not have a Marine reservist presence, the commander of the Marine Forces Reserve authorizedMarine Corps League detachments and other local organizations to fill the gaps in toy collection and distribution.[8]
In 2009, the program received support from First LadyMichelle Obama, who placed the first collection box at theWhite House.[9] In December 2011, she took part in a Toys for Tots activity atJoint Base Anacostia-Bolling.[10][11]
As of 2016[update], the Toys for Tots Program and Foundation have collected and distributed more than 512 million toys.[12]
The program draws interest from multiple celebrities who appreciate the youth aspect of the charity. In 2022, theBackstreet Boys were inspired by young bandFirst Day of School (band) who had raised money for the charity through busking, and donated a portion of $25,000 to the charity in their name.[13]
The charity has also expanded year-round efforts that extend support to underprivileged children across the Nation outside of Christmastime. They have a Literacy Program dedicated towards providing age-appropriate books to children in low-income neighborhoods to break the cycle of poverty.[14]
Toys for Tots also has a Native American Program that donates toys and books to children on participating remote Reservations in collaborative support with the Office of the Vice President of the Navajo Nation's Navajo Literacy Program.[15]
This article incorporatespublic domain material from websites or documents of theUnited States Marine Corps.
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