Tuscaloosa, AL – The Military Law Society, a student-run association at the University of Alabama School of Law, successfully completed its 2007 Marine Toys for Tots Foundation drive, garnering approximately $1,500 worth of Christmas toys for needy children.
The month-long initiative reaped toys donated from students, faculty, and administrative officials at the law school. The 2007 drive is the second consecutive year the law school’s Military Law Society has partnered with the Marine Corps in this capacity, and the joint effort is expected to continue on an ongoing annual basis.
“The students in the Military Law Society felt a desire to get involved with the Marines in an effort to help our community,” said Lieutenant Matt Owen, third-year law student and Vice President of the Military Law Society at the University of Alabama School of Law. “Toys for Tots is a premier philanthropic initiative, and we are happy to help as best we can.”
Toys for Tots began in 1947 and is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. The program provides funding and support for annual toy collection and distribution campaigns. Local Marine Corps Reserve units and volunteer organizations collect and distribute toys in 565 communities in all 50 states as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The initiative has provided assistance to approximately 173 million families – and distributed nearly 373 million toys – to date.
“I have been to Iraq and Afghanistan and seen families that are truly in need,” said Gunnery Sergeant David Hooker. “You can’t put a price on what it means to help families here in the United States. This year we’ve had an overwhelming number of families sign up for the program; the demand is there – we’re doing the best we can to make sure the supply is there as well.”
Anyone interested in contributing to the Toys for Tots campaign can contact Gunnery Sergeant David Hooker at david.hooker@usmc.mil or visit the Toys for Tots website at www.toysfortots.org.
