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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | November 27, 2019 09:37 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Greg Rothman |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Resolution Recognizing the "Marine Toys for Tots Program" |
| Next week, I will be introducing a Resolution to recognize the creation of the “Marine Toys for Tots Program,” which has been in operation since 1947. To date, over 566 million toys have been distributed and 258 million children supported. The primary goal of Marine Toys for Tots is, through the gift of a new toy, help bring the joy of Christmas and send a message of hope to America's less fortunate children. Toys for Tots began in 1947 as the brain child of Marine Corps Reserve Major Bill Hendricks, but it was his wife, Diane, who was the real inspiration. She had crafted a few handcrafted dolls and asked Bill to deliver them to an agency that supports children in need. When Bill reported back to his wife that he could not find such an organization, she instructed him to “start one!” Major Hendricks and the Marines in his reserve unit in LA collected and distributed 5,000 toys in 1947. Seeing such successful community engagement in 1947, the Commandant directed all Marine Reserve Sites to implement a TFT campaign transforming it into a national community action program in 1948. Seventy-two years later, the program is still making sure every child has the opportunity to receive a new toy under the Christmas tree. Please join me in recognizing this outstanding program that keeps on giving. |
Introduced as HR631