2005 Toys for Tots Newsletter

The 2004 T4Ts Campaign was a banner year: both for the number of toys collected or purchased and distributed and the number of needy children receiving toys for Christmas. We/YOU assisted in distributing over 19 million toys to 7.5 million children!! WOW!! And Congratulations! BZ!!

The T4Ts Program functioned in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico in 2004. Within that geography there were 481 communities participating; but many more "contributing organizations" were involved because of the number of MCL Detachments co-located with the USMCR Units. Great participation and support.

While there were 72 National Corporate Sponsors for T4Ts in 2004 there are only about 51 at this time for 2005--which means we, ALL, need to work harder this year to collect and distribute toys. I am certain we will have more Corporate Sponsors "sign-up" before the end of the campaign; but we still need to be prepared to better support the program if we do not get as many sponsors this year as we did last year.

This year one of the Sponsors is UPS; and I have been contacted by one of its store owners (former Marine!) who has suggested that the MCL members in all cities where there are detachments AND UPS stores/locations make personal (!!!!) contact with as many stores as possible in order to offer whatever help the store manager might need to "kick-start" the T4Ts program with UPS --at the local level! A GREAT idea!! CHALLENGE!!??

(My POC believes such an approach will net us many more toys than might, otherwise, be collected. And-- a "donation box" located in a secure environment within the stores may, also, net us some "spending money" for toys?!?!) GO UPS!

The T4Ts Foundation has reorganized for better financial ans administrative support to all approved Campaign Units. The country is divided inti 4 segments--geographically moving from East to West. Each Region is supported by one (1) Foundation Account Clerk, and she is the POC for any of your questions or problems with your campaign. Region (i): Alicia David; Region 2: Valerie Anderson; Region 3: Tammy Weatherholtz; and Region 4: Dawn Dryden. All can be contacted via the T4Ts Foundation tele. #: 703-640-9433.

Do not forget to submit your After Action Reports to the Foundation NLT 15 January, 2006!! MOST IMPORTANT! And, as soon as soon as possible after that submission please send me your MCL report with the same information as last year (not nearly as detailed as the Foundation AAR, since it only applies to what your MCL participation and contributions were fpr 2005!) This info enables me to consolidate our nation-wide MCL participation and the "slice of the pie" of the T4Ts program we are/were responsible for supporting. Thereafter, I will report the summary data to the MCL Board of Trustees and attending membership at the Mid-winter conference. (so, I really need your consolidated departmental data before the Mid-Winter Conference. PLEASE.

Additionally, and equally as important, is the need for ALL of your department 's detachments that want to participate in the 2006 T4Ts campaign to send their application to the T4Ts Foundation as soon as possible after sending their AAR to the Foundation. DO NOT DELAY, if you (and they) want to be part of the program next year!!

This year's campaign begins, officially, on 18 November when the T4Ts Foundation hosts the Official Kickoff Luncheon" in the Washington, D.C. area. However, many of us (and probably many of you) have already begun--with some T4Ts events and activities scheduled or conducted. DO NOT STOP!! Early beginning assists us in collecting more toys for greater distribution and more needy children receiving "our product". Keep up the good work!!

While each of you has a Div. Vice Commandant to whom you report, and to whom you should keep informed about any problems you may incur re' the T4Ts Program, PLEASE contact ME if you are having any problems with your T4Ts programs relative to T4Ts vs MCL that you cannot resolve within your structure. Or, interpretation of applicable guidelines, rules and/or procedures.

Please DO NOT contact the T4Ts Foundation!!! They have more than 500 approved T4Ts units around the country (for 2005) to administer to. Let us be the MCL "filter" and "problem resolution representative" for our League. My phone # is 757-426-2403; or cell # 757- 636-9190. E-mail: altasejr@earthlink.net. OR, for the Western part of the country, contact "Ted" Corbett: 858-279-4768. E-mail: ecorbet1@san.rr.com.

We (MCL) want this year to be the very best T4Ts achievement the Foundation has ever experienced---because of OUR support and participation. Can you make it happen??????????

I have included attachments to this letter pertaining to the T4Ts Program. Please read, study and apply the information to your detachments' 2005 efforts. And, please send me your greatest, special / unique T4Ts events or activities you/your detachments use to have a very successful campaign. I can inform all of the MCL Detachments of the very sucessful (as well as unique) toys and fund-raiser activities implemented by "US" that result in significant program and needy children successes!!

REMEMBER THE DATES!!!

SF; and Good Luck with your Department's T4Ts program for 2005.

Al Tase and Ted Corbett