Wright-Patterson Air Force Base plays a significant role in helping to support children in the area. Last year, the base collected over 8,600 toys.
Coordinating this year’s program at Wright-Patterson AFB is Brad Rawn, otherwise known as “Santa.” Rawn is filling the shoes of the last 20-year “Santa,” Paul Tober, who has recently retired after a 30-year career at Wright-Patt.
Rawn recognized that because Tober had been leading the program for so many years, he wanted to make sure that the Toys for Tots legacy continued and volunteered to take over.
“Through a combined effort, for over two decades, Air Force Materiel Command and Wright-Patt have continuously supported Toys for Tots,” said Rawn. “I’ve only been with the program for a few years, but every year I’ve witnessed the incredible generosity of personnel on Wright-Patt by continuing to donate over 8,000 toys annually for less fortunate children in Greene and Montgomery counties.”
In 1947, Diane Hendricks, wife of Marine reservist, Maj. Bill Hendricks, wanted to donate her homemade dolls to an organization for children in need. With dolls in hand, Maj. Hendricks set out to donate the dolls to a local charity. Not being able to find any, his wife suggested he start one.
He and his fellow Marine Corps reservists began placing giant white boxes outside of local movie theaters. Marines wore their blues and personally thanked each person for their donation. Their efforts were so successful that over 5,000 toys were collected that year.
In the following year, the program was adopted by the U.S. Marine Corps, expanding nationally to each reserve center. The program continued to grow with every year seeing more success than the previous year.
The Marines knew that expanding the program was the only way to keep it going, so in 1991, they sought official recognition from the Pentagon. Although the U.S. military cannot endorse any civilian charity or organization, then Secretary of Defense William J. Perry made a one and only exception and Toys for Tots was declared an official mission of the U.S. Marine Corps.
With 15 million American children living in poverty, a new toy donated to a child is delivering a message of hope and help to steer them toward productive lives. According to the Toys for Tots webpage, www.toysfortots.org, Marines find time to be compassionate for the less fortunate members of America’s society. They set an example for youngsters to strive to emulate.
Actual accounts from individuals acknowledge that Toys for Tots has motivated them to become responsible, productive citizens and leaders.
“I received a Toys for Tots donation when I was around 9; it was just my dad and I at the time, and we barely had enough money for rent. He must have applied for it because one day in December a whole group of people came over with a few presents for me. I’ll always remember that and usually donate to someone in need for the holidays because I remember how I felt knowing someone cared about us,” said Cheryl Martin, remembering the impact the program had on her as a child.”
To support the Toys for Tots program, new unwrapped toys can be placed in one of the 170 donation boxes, located in 68 different buildings around Wright-Patt. For more information regarding the program or to volunteer, contact Rawn at bradley.rawn.1@us.af.mil.
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