Dec. 26, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Through the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program, the Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics Department donated over 500 toys to needy children throughout the Centre Region this holiday season. Team ICA, a committee within the Penn State Athletic Department, coordinated the toy drive from November into December, encouraging all employees to donate at least one toy leading up to the annual holiday party, which supports Toys for Tots. In addition, Team ICA also collected non-perishable food items for the Centre County food bank, donating several boxes to help local families.
Penn State Director of Athletics Tim Curley presented the large assortment of toys to the Chairman of Centre County Toys for Tots, Gene Weller. Weller, Major USMCR (Ret), was on hand for the ICA holiday party again this year to talk to the employees about the program, where their donations go and approximately how many children the Toys for Tots program helps throughout the Centre Region on a annual basis as well as to thank the employees for their annual participation in the program.
About Toys for Tots:
The mission of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community in which the campaign is conducted. The primary goal of Toys for Tots is to deliver, through a shiny new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to needy youngsters that will motivate them to grow into responsible, productive, patriotic citizens and community leaders.
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