FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Adrienne Appell
Toy Industry Association
646.520.4863
aappell@toyassociation.org
Sara Leutzinger
Boys & Girls Clubs of America
404.487.5624
sleutzinger@bgca.org
1,000 Children at Ventura County Naval Base Get New Toys and Games from Toy Industry Foundation
Ventura, CA | June 10, 2016 – More than 1,000 kids and teens living with their families at Ventura County Naval Base were treated to a special toy giveaway on June 10th hosted by the Toy Industry Foundation (TIF) and national partner Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s (BGCA) Military Services.
Families stationed at the base enjoyed a fun-filled day of outdoor play that included music and basketball games. To cap off the event, children of all ages picked out brand-new toys and games, including stuffed animals, action figures, arts and crafts kits, puzzles and more. The playthings were donated to TIF’s Toy Bank by generous toy manufacturers, distributors and retailers from across the nation.
“For a child, living on a military base means being taken away from their hometowns, adapting to unfamiliar surroundings, and facing the stressful prospect of one or both parents being deployed overseas,” said Jean Butler, TIF executive director. “By providing these kids with new toys, we hope to bring smiles to their faces and unite these deserving families through play. It’s our way of thanking our service members and their children for the many sacrifices they make to keep our country safe!”
“Boys & Girls Clubs of America and our military families are extremely appreciative of our 7th year partnership with the Toy Industry Foundation,” said Terrill D. McFarland, National Vice President, Military & Outreach Services, BGCA. “As we enter our 26th year partnership with the Armed Services, we know that commitments with organizations like the Toy Industry Foundation will continue to assist in our goal to expand support to military-connected families. The partnership with the Toy Industry Foundation has helped to put a smile on the faces of our military-connected kids and teens. It is our way of saying, ‘Thank you for your sacrifice.’”
TIF’s Play Comforts program was launched in 2010 with BGCA to celebrate and support military families. To date, Play Comforts has provided $6.3 million in toys to more than 1.7 million children at U.S. military bases worldwide. By the end of 2016, Play Comforts will have impacted the lives of families at 243 military bases over the life of the program.
Play Comforts is the first-ever national toy distribution program to canvas every branch of the U.S. military.
TIF collaborates annually with BGCA to identify military bases that are most in need of toys due to high deployment rates and other factors. Together, TIF and BGCA host special events at select bases, like the one held at Ventura County Naval Base. In addition to providing kids with toys, these unique events provide wonderful opportunities for families to get together, relax, and enjoy a fun-filled day of laughter and play.
Toys distributed at Ventura County Naval Base were kindly donated by Mattel, Hasbro, LEGO, T.S. Shure, Munchkin, Lulu Jr., Mayfair Games, Play Monster, ALEX Brands, Ohio Art and Yamie Chess.
ABOUT TOY INDUSTRY FOUNDATION (www.toyindustryfoundation.org)
The Toy Industry Foundation (TIF) is a non-profit organization whose mission it is to bring the magic of play to children in need. While other organizations provide food, shelter and support services to children and their families, TIF sees to it that these children have toys and opportunities to play in an attempt to restore both fun and a sense of normalcy to their lives. To date, TIF’s signature program, The Toy Bank, has provided more than $128 million in toys to 19 million children in need around the globe, thanks to its generous toy donors.
ABOUT BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA (www.bgca.org)
For more than 100 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (www.bgca.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, more than 4,100 Clubs serve nearly 4 million young people annually through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. They provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun, friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Priority programs emphasize academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 54 percent said the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more on Facebook and Twitter.