Dear Toys for Tots Team Member

Because you have played a significant role in recent Marine Corps Toys for Tots Campaigns, I thought you might like to learn just how successful we were in 2010.  Our Marines fulfilled the Christmas holiday dreams for 7.2 million of our nation’s neediest children.  With so many Marines in Afghanistan and other challenging places, I believe reaching so many children was nothing short of a miracle. 

In 2010 we raised nearly three million dollars through online contributions; more than in any previous campaign.  Thanks to generous individuals like you, we raised enough money to purchase gifts for 300,000 additional children!  While operating in 714 communities nationwide, we continued our Native American Program and our literacy services by providing several million children’s books as gifts. 

While we were able to reach millions of children, we still ran out of gifts long before we ran out of children in need.  There are more than 14 million children living in poverty in this great nation of ours.  With the state of the economy sluggish, and with our Marines so busy, we anticipate needing even greater community support for our 2011 Christmas campaign.  Of course, we’ll leave no stone unturned in our search for additional cash and toy donations, but it’s still going to be another challenging year. 

We are very proud of the fact that over 98% of every dollar donated went to our mission of providing gifts to less fortunate children.  And not one penny paid anyone’s salary. 

I’m not asking you for a dime right now, but I do hope that you’ll save a few dollars to help us buy toys and books in the second half of the year.  Best wishes for a pleasant, safe and exciting spring and summer.

Sincerely,

William J. Grein
Major, USMC (Ret.)
Vice President
Marine Toys for Tots Foundation