U.S. Marines in Sri Lanka Carry on a Proud Tradition of Charitable GivingCOLOMBO – January 25, 2007: Members of the U.S. Marines attached to the U.S. Embassy Colombo invited Ambassador Robert Blake and embassy staff to join in giving donated toys and school supplies to the Clarendon Children’s Home in Mt. Lavinia as part of the Toys For Tots program. Sgt. Ozzimo, the senior Marine at the presentation said, “When I see their faces smile, it makes me proud to do what I do”. Every year, the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots charity drive collects hundreds of thousands of items for distribution to disadvantaged children worldwide.
Toys for Tots began in 1947 when Major Bill Hendricks, USMCR and a group of Marine Reservists in Los Angeles collected and distributed 5,000 toys to needy children. The idea came from Bill's wife, Diane. In the fall of 1947, Diane handcrafted a Raggedy Ann doll and asked Bill to deliver the doll to an organization, which would give it to a needy child at Christmas. When Bill determined that no agency existed, Diane told Bill that he should start one. He did. The 1947 pilot project was so successful that the Marine Corps adopted Toys for Tots in 1948 and expanded it into a nationwide campaign.
Over the 58 years of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program, Marines have distributed more than 351 million toys for 166 million needy children. This charitable endeavor has made U.S. Marines the unchallenged leaders in looking after needy children at Christmas. Over its 15 year life span, the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation has supplemented local toy collections with more than 64.5 million toys valued at more than $344 million; plus has provided promotion and support materials valued at over $3.9 million.