Give A Needy Tot A Toy
Help make the holidays happier for needy children by donating to our annual "Wishes for Kids" toy drive.
Through Dec. 23, The Early Show and the United States Marines' "Toys for Tots" are teaming to attract as many toys as possible.
Each morning, different companies have representatives on our plaza, making donations.
But YOU can help, as well.
TO MAKE A DONATION, PLEASE CLICK HERE.
We hope to raise over $1 million for kids for the holidays.
Saturday, Dec. 23, 2006
Duracell is providing many of the gifts on its North Pole Gift Index Most Requested Gifts of 2006, some $1500 worth of products. In addition, they are providing batteries and battery chargers for the products that require batteries, about $3,000-$4,000 worth.
The most-requested toys:
Also, Kohl's Territory Manager Jon Grosso donated $40,000 in Dr. Seuss books and toys.
Friday, Dec. 22, 2006
Neil Friedman, president of Mattel brands, and Aisha Bailey, founder of Aisha and Company, stopped by to make donations.
Thursday, Dec. 21, 2006
On Day 10 of the "Wishes for Kids" holiday toy drive, Sababa Toys president Stone Newman donated more than $30,000 worth of "Happy Feet" games based on the animated movie that is one of this year's biggest grossing films.
Wedneday, Dec. 20, 2006
For the second year in a row, Learning Curve made a very generous donation. "Bob the Builder" brought nearly $28,000 in Bob the Builder toys, including the "You're a Builder" Dancing Bob, the scoop activity rider, and a build-along activity tool bench.
Also, Geneon Entertainment donated $10,000 worth of "Hello Kitty" DVDs. Among them, "Hello Kitty: A Place of Fun" and "Hello Kitty: Making Friends," all about the adventures of Kitty in Stump Village.
Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2006
Tony Bennett not only gave a special performance of holiday songs, he brought along students from the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, who donated toys.
It is a public high school in New York City that Bennett founded and named after his late best friend. Each student has to audition for entry and have an excellent academic record. The school opened in 2001 in Bennett's home borough of Queens in New York City, and has one of the highest graduation rates and rate of students attending college in the city. Bennett decided to focus on a public arts school as part of his legacy and commitment to arts education.
Also, John Furner, a vice president of Sam's Club, donated $10,000 in merchandise and $5,000 in gift cards that can be used at Sam's Club or Wal-Mart stores, for a total donation of $15,000.
The toys included Weebles Castles, Plush chairs, Rocking Animals,
Madame Alexandra baby dolls, Roboreptiles, make-up cases, Barbie dolls, and "Pirates of the Caribbean" figures.
Monday, Dec. 18, 2006
Judy Galbraith, president of Free Spirit Publishing, donated some 3,000 books valued at close to $15,000. Free Spirit Publishing is an independent publisher in Minneapolis. Founded 23 years ago by Judy Galbraith, a former teacher, the company publishes books designed to help kids and teens succeed in life and make a difference in the world.
Chestnut the Great Dane, with his friend and trainer, Lisa Campbell, stopped by on behald of Genius Products, which gave $10,000 in DVDs: "Chestnut: Hero of Central Park" and "Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker."
Saturday, Dec 16, 2006
Three companies were thanked for their generosity.
Russ Auerbach is the CEO of the Northwest Company, which donated $100,000 worth of their blanket puzzles and games.
And David Fingeroth represented Magellan, which gave $80,000 worth of their kids' GPS systems.
Sonya St. Cyr is the marketing manager for Kid Galaxy toys, which donated $20,000 worth of toys.
Friday, Dec 15, 2006
Zizzle, a two-year-old start-up company, is the master toy licensee for Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean, which means they make all the action figures of the characters, as well as the playsets and role-play items.
Zizzle donated action figures of Captain Jack Sparrow, Will Turner, Elizabeth Swann and more, playsets including those of Isla Cruces and Deck Duel, and role-play items such as Jack Sparrow's Pirate Gear featuring Jack's headband, rings and more, and Jack Sparrow's Electronic Clash and Flash Sword. Total value is $15,000.
Also, Fox Home Entertainment gave $10,000 in "Home Alone Family Fun Entertainment Edition" and "Strawberry Shortcake Berry Fairy Tales" DVDs.
Thursday, Dec. 14, 2006
There were donations from Callie and Pam Weiant, co-founders of Gamesake board games, and Julia Fitzgerald, vice-president of marketing for VTech Electronics.
The Weiants brought $60,000 in Gamesake board games -- personalized keepsake board games you create with favorite memories.
Fitzgerald gave $20,000 of V.Flash "edutainment" systems, which are similar to Nintendo's, but educational and for younger kids.
Wednesday, Dec. 13
Ken Price, senior vice president of sales at JAKKS Pacific, presented a donation of $100,000 worth of toys. The items include Cabbage Patch Kids dolls (no two are alike) and thousands of plug-and-play TV Games products, which are controllers that you plug into the TV to play multiple games.
Also, on behalf of Magellan GPS, David Fingeroth presented a donation of $75,000 worth of Educational Learning Systems for children ages 7 and over.
Tuesday, Dec. 12
Patrick Calello, designer of Automoblox, brought us some of his wonderful wooden car construction toys. They're designed to help kids develop their personal sense of style and creativity.
Also, Sanrio, the makers of Hello Kitty merchandise, donated $20,000 in plush Hello Kitty toys, electronics, guitars, and accessories such as backpacks and bags.
Monday, Dec. 11
Hasbro donated more than $100,000 in toys and games to Wishes for Kids. They're a partner of Toys for Tots this year.
Hasbro's vice president of community relations, Karen Davis, was on the plaza to make the donation of some of the company's hottest toys of the season.
They included Peek n' Play, Nerf Showtime Hoops, Cosmic Catch, and Massively Mini Media.
Hasbro is also donating a Furreal Friends Butterscotch Pony (value is approx $300), which is a life-sized pony and whinnies and neighs.
Massively Mini Media is a palm-sized digital media player made just for kids. Cosmic Catch is a game that blends SIMON with the classic game of "catch" Peek N Play Discovery Dome from Playskool.