U.S. Embassy Marine Guards donate toys to needy children
ASTANA. January 14. KAZINFORM On January 15, 2010, at 10:00 a.m., the U.S. Embassy Marine Security Guard Detachment (MSG) will deliver toys and gifts to the children of the Astana Boarding School for Children with Special Needs, located at 9 Zhangeldina Street, as a part of their Toys for Tots program. The Astana Boarding School for Children with Special Needs hosts 243 children aged between 7 and 18; the press service of the US Embassy informs.
The Toys for Tots campaign is an annual charity campaign to support orphanages held by the MSG of the U.S. Embassy in Astana every year since 2006. From November 18 - December 30, with the help of the QSI School and the U.S. Embassy community, the MSG raised $2,000 to purchase special sporting equipment and toys for needy children.
Toys for Tots began in 1947 when U.S. Marine Major Bill Hendricks and a group of Marine Reservists in Los Angeles collected and distributed 5,000 toys to needy children. After their successful campaign in 1947, the Marine Corps adopted Toys for Tots in 1948 and expanded it into a nationwide campaign. Marines have conducted successful nationwide campaigns at Christmas each year since 1948. The initial objective that remains the hallmark of the program today is to "bring the joy of Christmas to needy children." The MSGs and Marines around the world are the ones that coordinate the event on a yearly basis.