TIF Brings Toys to Nearly 2 Million Children through Military Partnership

December 12, 2016 | The Toy Industry Foundation (TIF) has provided toys and games to more than 1.7 million military children and families through its long-term partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) Military Services, bringing joy and laughter to children living on nearly 250 U.S. military bases.

Most recently, the Foundation held a holiday toy distribution event at Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, TX, where more than 700 children and families of the U.S. Air Force participated in a fun-filled “Santa’s Workshop” themed day. The Foundation handed out toys and playthings including plush, crafts, puzzles, educational toys, sports toys, and board games. Additionally, the youth center at Dyess Air Force Base organized more than 10 different activities for the kids, ranging from build your own snowman (by wrapping kids in toilet paper), to making snowflakes, throwing a ring toss, and other holiday fun games. The festivities continued as the popular movie Elf was playing on the center’s big screen and Santa’s little helpers served holiday snacks and hot cocoa to attendees.

“It’s not uncommon for military children to experience stress as they worry about their parents’ safety as they serve our country,” said TIF Executive Director Jean Butler. “That’s why it is so important for us to relieve a child’s worries by providing them with the gift of play. Our military men and women make incredible sacrifices to keep us safe. We are proud to give back by sharing these toys with them and their families.”

Toys delivered to military bases are donated by generous toy manufacturers, retailers and distributors to TIF’s Toy Bank. TIA members Alex Brands, Bananagrams, Hasbro, International Playthings, Lulu, Mattel, Mayfair, Ohio Art, and PlayMonster graciously donated toys to the Dyess Air Force Base event.

Play Comforts, now in its seventh year of operation, has seen the toy industry donate nearly $6.5 million worth of toys to military families stationed in the U.S. and across the world with the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Armed Forces, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Marine Corps, and the U.S. Navy.  This program represents the first-ever national toy distribution program to serve every branch of the U.S. military.