Smile Report: Coosa Valley Credit Union makes $1,000 donation to Toys for Tots

Media release: Coosa Valley Credit Union has made a $1,000 donation in the name of the company groups it serves to the Toys for Tots foundation to help support their 2015 campaign. Robert Smyth, assistant vice president of marketing, said: “The Toys for Tots foundation is one of our favorite groups. Not only do they make a difference in the lives of so many children at Christmas, but the organization is run and manned by volunteers. All money raised goes right back to the children. We are grateful for the many blessings the Credit Union has received as a result of the communities we serve and working with Toy for Tots is a way we can pass those blessing along.” Coosa Valley Credit Union also had donation boxes at each branch. Through the branch staffs’ efforts, Coosa Valley was able to fill donation boxes full of new unwrapped toys. The Toys for Tots program recently was turned over to the Exchange Club of Rome. Heading this project is Exchange member Hal Gosnell, who is a retired Marine colonel and also a member of the local Marine Corps League. Gosnell said: “We appreciate this and all donations made to Toys for Tots this holiday season. Its organizations like Coosa Valley and the companies they serve who truly make a difference in our community. With this donation as well as many others, Toys for Tots was able to serve well over 650 families this holiday season. ”

Toys for Tots began in 1947, when Major Bill Hendricks, USCR and a group of Marine Reservists in Los Angeles collected and distributed 5,000 toys to needy children. The idea came from Bill’s wife, Diane. 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 America’s needy children” and since its beginning, the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program has distributed more than 400 million toys to more than 188 million needy children. Walt Disney designed the Toys for Tots logo, which is still used today.