Its that time of the year again when we as riders fill our calendars with toy runs for a variety of causes.
In the upstate of South Carolina, this will be the 10th annual Marine Corps Toys for Tots run and if this year is anything like previous events it will be chilly, huge and a great tine.
The mission of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve
Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November
and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy
children in the community in which the campaign is conducted.
Toys for Tots began in Los Angeles as a charitable effort in 1947 by reservist Major William L. Hendricks. Major Hendricks was inspired by his wife Diane when she unsuccessfully tried to find an organization to donate a doll to a needy child. At her suggestion, he gathered a group of local Marine reservists, including Lieutenant Colonel John Hampton, who coordinated and collected some 5,000 toys for local children that year from collection bins placed outside of Warner Bros. movie theaters. Their efforts were so successful that in 1948 Toys for Tots was launched as a national campaign. Major Hendricks enlisted celebrity support including Walt Disney Studios, which designed and donated the famous red toy train logo.
The Greenville, South Carolina 2012 campaign is managed by Staff Sergeant Gustavo Villasenor. He is assisted by Staff Sergeant Jerod Mann. Together, these two Marines collaborate with more than one hundred individual collection location volunteers, fifteen event sponsors, and five nonprofit distributors to generate over 40,000 toys for local children. The success of the Greenville, South Carolina campaign is a testament to the dedication and charitable spirit of businesses and residents in the Upstate community.
This clip from the 2011 event will give you a sense of the spirit of hope and giving that is just part of the Toys for Tots Run each year.
Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, an IRS recognized 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public charity is the fund raising, funding and support organization for the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program.
Toys for Tots began in Los Angeles as a charitable effort in 1947 by reservist Major William L. Hendricks. Major Hendricks was inspired by his wife Diane when she unsuccessfully tried to find an organization to donate a doll to a needy child. At her suggestion, he gathered a group of local Marine reservists, including Lieutenant Colonel John Hampton, who coordinated and collected some 5,000 toys for local children that year from collection bins placed outside of Warner Bros. movie theaters. Their efforts were so successful that in 1948 Toys for Tots was launched as a national campaign. Major Hendricks enlisted celebrity support including Walt Disney Studios, which designed and donated the famous red toy train logo.
The Greenville, South Carolina 2012 campaign is managed by Staff Sergeant Gustavo Villasenor. He is assisted by Staff Sergeant Jerod Mann. Together, these two Marines collaborate with more than one hundred individual collection location volunteers, fifteen event sponsors, and five nonprofit distributors to generate over 40,000 toys for local children. The success of the Greenville, South Carolina campaign is a testament to the dedication and charitable spirit of businesses and residents in the Upstate community.
Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, an IRS recognized 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public charity is the fund raising, funding and support organization for the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program.
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