The origin of Toys for Tots can be traced to a hand-made doll and a desire to brighten the life of a child. Nearly 50 years ago the late Colonel Bill Hendricks' USMC wife asked him to arrange to have a doll she had made given to an under privileged child at Christmas. What seemed a simple gesture grew complicated when he found that there were no agencies to distribute toys to needy children. This was a gap he decided needed to be filled, and so was born the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program. 

That was 1947, and since that first year in which 5,000 toys were collected and distributed to needy children in Los Angeles, Toys for Tots has grown into a nationwide Christmas charity. Each year nearly 200 Marine Corps Reserve Units across the United States collect Christmas toys for needy children. In recent years we have averaged over eight million toys each Christmas. To date well over 100 million children have had their Christmas dreams come true through hard work and the dedication of the Marine Corps Reserve.  

Over the years, Toys for Tots collection and distribution sites have become an important and familiar element of Christmas. To many Americans, Christmas isn't complete without the image of uniformed Marines collecting and distributing toys to economically disadvantaged children of their communities. 

Toys for Tots' goal of providing toys to needy children at Christmas has enormous appeal. The Marine Corps Reserve attracts volunteers from all walks of life who recognize the vital role Toys for Tots plays in an American Christmas. Walt Disney made an important early contribution to the program by designing the now familiar train logo and the first Toys for Tots poster. Many celebrities, including John Wayne, Sammy Davis Jr., Brooke Shields, and Johnny Carson have worked to increase public awareness of the program. Professional athletes, business leaders and entertainers generously give of their time to support the Marine Corps Reserve and encourage donations. Perhaps the most important, however, are the thousands of volunteers at the local level who assist Marines in the critical behind-the-scenes work necessary to make Toys for Tots a success year after year. 

This ability to draw different elements of the community together for a common purpose is part of the magic of the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program. Founded on the premise that "every child deserves a little Christmas," the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program provides needy children with the simple joy of a new toy for Christmas. Because the Marine Reserve collects and distributes new toys during the holiday season, the parents of over three million children will be spared the pain of saying... "I'm sorry, but Santa isn't coming this year." 

The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is an IRS approved, not-for-profit, public charity that has supported Marine Corps Reserve Units since Christmas 1991. The foundation raises funds to purchase toys to supplement the collections of Reserve Units, plus it provides the promotional materials that enable Reserve Units to conduct effective local programs. Additionally, the Foundation provides administrative, advisory, financial, logistic and other support to Reserve units. Since Reserve units are not authorized to solicit or receive cash donations, the Foundation handles such contributions made to community Toys for Tots by local citizens and businesses.