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Washington Times
December 17, 2008
Pg. B3
Texting TOY a new way to donate to Marine drive
By Karen Goldberg Goff, The Washington Times
The Marine Corps Reserve's annual Toys for Tots drive, like many nonprofits, is experiencing holiday stress.
The organization, which has distributed more than 387 million toys during its 60 years in operation, is coping with an increase in requests for toys this season while trying to steel itself for a possible downturn in the number of toys donated.
"We are anticipating need going up and fewer people donating toys," says retired Maj. Gen. William J. Grein, spokesman for the Toys for Tots Foundation (www.toysfortots.org). "But I am always amazed at how generous the American public is. Even in a bad economy, we have seen some of our best years. We have been fortunate in that regard."
The Marine Corps Reserve has been sponsoring Toys for Tots since 1927, when it collected and delivered 5,000 toys to Los Angeles youngsters. It has, of course, expanded into a national charity, growing from 180 local campaigns in 1980 to 658 today. In 2007, Toys for Tots gave away 16.6 million toys to 7.5 million children.
However, retired Lt. Gen. Pete Osman, president and chief executive of the Toys for Tots Foundation, points out that 13.5 million American children are living in poverty, so there is a need for more donations to reach more children. Toys for Tots recipients are chosen mostly by school and social-service administrators, who are able to identify youngsters in need.
Gen. Osman tells the story of a Marine sergeant for whom Toys for Tots made a difference during his childhood. Money was tight for this Marine's family when he was growing up near Detroit, but there were always Christmas presents. Years later, the Marine's mother told him the toys sometimes came from Toys for Tots.
"She said, 'If it weren't for Toys for Tots, some years we wouldn't have had anything under the tree,'" Gen. Osman says. "Some say we should put a Marine Corps sticker on the presents. That's not the idea. We want kids to think the toys came from Santa or from Mom and Dad. We want to take care of youngsters, and we'll continue to operate that way."
Gen. Osman says the outlook for this holiday season is still unfolding.
"People ask me how we are doing in the financial crisis," he says, noting that corporate sponsorship was on pace with last year. "My concern is whether individual Americans will be able to buy a $10 toy and drop it in the barrel. We're optimistic."
Toys for Tots recently announced a text drive to raise money. By texting the word TOY to 90999, callers can make a $5 donation to Toys for Tots. The $5 will be added to the caller's cell phone bill. Ninety-seven percent of every dollar raised goes directly for toy purchases, Gen. Grein says.
"With so many deserving families in need of our assistance this year, we want to make it easy and affordable for the American public to help us deliver toys to children," Gen. Osman says. "If everyone would take out their phone and text the word TOY to 90999, we could achieve our goal of delivering a toy to every one of the 13 million U.S. children living in poverty."
To make the most of every dollar donated, Hasbro Inc. recently announced it will donate a toy or game for every text donation made through Sunday, providing up to 150,000 Hasbro toys and games.
December 17, 2008
Pg. B3
Texting TOY a new way to donate to Marine drive
By Karen Goldberg Goff, The Washington Times
The Marine Corps Reserve's annual Toys for Tots drive, like many nonprofits, is experiencing holiday stress.
The organization, which has distributed more than 387 million toys during its 60 years in operation, is coping with an increase in requests for toys this season while trying to steel itself for a possible downturn in the number of toys donated.
"We are anticipating need going up and fewer people donating toys," says retired Maj. Gen. William J. Grein, spokesman for the Toys for Tots Foundation (www.toysfortots.org). "But I am always amazed at how generous the American public is. Even in a bad economy, we have seen some of our best years. We have been fortunate in that regard."
The Marine Corps Reserve has been sponsoring Toys for Tots since 1927, when it collected and delivered 5,000 toys to Los Angeles youngsters. It has, of course, expanded into a national charity, growing from 180 local campaigns in 1980 to 658 today. In 2007, Toys for Tots gave away 16.6 million toys to 7.5 million children.
However, retired Lt. Gen. Pete Osman, president and chief executive of the Toys for Tots Foundation, points out that 13.5 million American children are living in poverty, so there is a need for more donations to reach more children. Toys for Tots recipients are chosen mostly by school and social-service administrators, who are able to identify youngsters in need.
Gen. Osman tells the story of a Marine sergeant for whom Toys for Tots made a difference during his childhood. Money was tight for this Marine's family when he was growing up near Detroit, but there were always Christmas presents. Years later, the Marine's mother told him the toys sometimes came from Toys for Tots.
"She said, 'If it weren't for Toys for Tots, some years we wouldn't have had anything under the tree,'" Gen. Osman says. "Some say we should put a Marine Corps sticker on the presents. That's not the idea. We want kids to think the toys came from Santa or from Mom and Dad. We want to take care of youngsters, and we'll continue to operate that way."
Gen. Osman says the outlook for this holiday season is still unfolding.
"People ask me how we are doing in the financial crisis," he says, noting that corporate sponsorship was on pace with last year. "My concern is whether individual Americans will be able to buy a $10 toy and drop it in the barrel. We're optimistic."
Toys for Tots recently announced a text drive to raise money. By texting the word TOY to 90999, callers can make a $5 donation to Toys for Tots. The $5 will be added to the caller's cell phone bill. Ninety-seven percent of every dollar raised goes directly for toy purchases, Gen. Grein says.
"With so many deserving families in need of our assistance this year, we want to make it easy and affordable for the American public to help us deliver toys to children," Gen. Osman says. "If everyone would take out their phone and text the word TOY to 90999, we could achieve our goal of delivering a toy to every one of the 13 million U.S. children living in poverty."
To make the most of every dollar donated, Hasbro Inc. recently announced it will donate a toy or game for every text donation made through Sunday, providing up to 150,000 Hasbro toys and games.