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1947 - Major Bill Hendricks founds the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program in Los Angeles, California. 5000 toys were collected during a campaign that ended before Christmas 1947.
1948 - The United States Marine Corps Reserve adopts the Toys for Tots program as a nationwide community service project conducted by local Reserve Units across the nation. Walt Disney designs the now famous Toys for Tots train logo and creates the first national Toys for Tots poster. These Christmas posters have become a recognized part of the annual program, and through the years have featured such notable characters as Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Dennis the Menace, Bugs Bunny, and the Road Runner.
1949 - Major celebrities begin to endorse the program. Over the years Toys for Tots spokespersons have included John Wayne, Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, George Strait, Brooke Shields, Charlton Heston, Ann Margaret, Sammy Davis, Jr., Doris Day, Andy Griffith, Charlie Daniels, Clint Eastwood, Lorrie Morgan, Johnny Carson and Tim Allen. First Ladies Nancy Reagan and Barbara Bush served as National Toys for Tots spokespersons.
1956 - Oscar winning songwriters Sammy Fain and Paul Webster compose the Toys for Tots theme, which was later recorded by Nat King Cole, Peggy Lee and Vic Damone.
1959 - Toys for Tots goes international. Although the program is designed to be a local program for local children of the United States, Toys for Tots went international on three occasions. The first followed the catastrophic typhoon that devastated the city of Nagoya, Japan in 1959. The other two occasions were to the Republic of Panama following the invasion in 1988, and to the Caribbean following Hurricane Hugo in 1989.
1960 - KABC-TV of Los Angeles receives the highest non-military award possible from the Commandant of the Marine Corps for sponsoring a spectacular Toys for Tots Circus.
1962 - New York Yankees sponsor first major sports event to benefit Toys for Tots, a "bring a toy game" with the Washington Senators. Since then the world of professional sports, both teams and individual athletes from virtually every sport, has supported toys for Tots.
1970's - The Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program continues to grow as does public support. More local and national companies become involved and local civilian organizations and individuals assist Reserve units with local programs. Program grows to the level of about 8,000,000 toys collected and distributed annually. From 1947 through Christmas 1979, Marines collected both new and used toys. As a result of the implementation of the Total Force Program within the Department of Defense in the late 1970's, Reservists no longer had time to refurbish toys, hence from Christmas 1980 onward, Marines have collected only new toys.
1990 - First national television network promotion for Toys for Tots. King World, Merv Griffin Productions' evening television game show, "Wheel of Fortune", and Pizza Hut conduct a three week promotion of Toys for Tots that raises nearly $3,000,000. It set several records that are recorded in the "Guinness Book of World Records" for participation and donations made to a call in promotional. Marine Corps Reserve units collected and distributed over 7.9 million toys. Marine Reserves are mobilized for Desert Shield/Storm, but Toys for Tots goes on.
1991 - Marine Reserve units collect and distribute over 7.4 million toys. The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation supports the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program for the first time providing 500,000 toys and promotional materials to local Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Programs.
1992 - Marine Reserve units collect and distribute over 7.4 million toys. Marine Toys for Tots Foundation provides over 250,000 of these toys. Most of the Foundation toys were presented to children of Florida and Louisiana who were victims of Hurricane Andrew. First Lady, Barbara Bush was National Spokesperson for TFT. The Marine Corps and everyone associated with Toys for Tots morns the passing of the founder of Toys for Tots, Colonel Bill Hendricks, USMCR (Ret).
1993 - Marine Reserve Units collect and distribute over 8,000,000 toys. Marine Toys for Tots Foundation provided 959,000 of those toys. Many of the toys provided by the Foundation were distributed to the children who were victims of the Mississippi basin floods.
1994 - Marine Reserve Units collect over 6,800,000 toys and brighten the Christmas of over 3,400,000 under privileged children. The Foundation provided over 800,000 of these toys.
1995 - Marine Reserve Units collect over 8,100,000 toys and brighten the Christmas of over 4,200,000 underprivileged children. The Foundation provided over 2,000,000 of these toys. TV star, Tim Allen was the National Toys for Tots Spokesperson. Marine Reserve Units and Marine Corps League Detachments.
1996 - Distribute over 6,700,000 toys to nearly 3,700,000 needy children. Over 2,000,000 of these toys were provided by the Foundation.
1997 Marines celebrate the 50th anniversary of Toys for Tots. On June 6th, the President, Marine Toys for Tots Foundation hosted a 50th anniversary reception at the John Philips Sousa Band Hall at Marine Barracks, Washington, DC.  Entertainer Kenny Rogers was the National Spokesperson during the 50th Anniversary year.  Marines collected and distributed over 10,000,000 toys to over 4,700,000 needy children throughout the nation.
1998 Marines began the second 50 years of Toys for Tots!  Once again, millions of caring Americans and a record 58 national corporations supported Toys for Tots.  Marines collected and distributed over 11,200,000 toys to over 4,800,000 needy children throughout all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and American Samoa.
1999 Marines and volunteers in 342 communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and American Samoa collected and distributed over 13,700,000 toys to 5,900,000 needy children.  The 1999 campaign surpassed all previous records for collecting toys and for helping needy children experience the joy of Christmas.
2000 John Glenn (veteran Marine, astronaut and U.S. Senator) and Heather French Henry (Miss America 2000) were the guests of honor at the National Kick-Off Luncheon.  During 2000, fifty-nine national corporate sponsors supported Toys for Tots.  Marines and volunteers collected and distributed over 15,800,000 toys to over 6,300,000 needy children throughout all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
2001 Despite the trauma the nation experienced as a result of the 911 attacks in New York City and Washington, DC, the economic downturn and the anthrax scare, the 2001 U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Campaign was the second best in the 54 year history of the program. Local campaigns were conducted in 388 communities covering all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
2002 Charity Navigator awarded the Foundation a 4-star rating and the Chronicle of Philanthropy ranked the Foundation #267 in the “Philanthropy 400”.
2003 Reader’s Digest, in the November 2003 edition, named Marine Toys for Tots Foundation “America’s Best Children's Charity”.
2004 Over the 57 years of the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program, Marines have distributed more than 313 million toys to 151 million children. This charitable endeavor has made the U.S. Marines the unchallenged leaders in looking after needy children at Christmas.