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DAPHNE, Ala. — The United States Sports Academy in Daphne is

teaming with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Foundation for the

16^th annual “Toys for Tots” campaign.

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The Academy will accept donations from local residents from Nov. 1

to Dec. 10 each Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to help

underprivileged children Baldwin County enjoy Christmas this

year.

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“The primary goal of the Toys for Tots program is to deliver,

through a new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to less fortunate

children that will assist them in becoming responsible, productive,

patriotic citizens,” The Academy stated.

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The Academy encourages individuals, schools, organizations, clubs

and businesses in the area to drop off their new, unwrapped toys to

help assist those who need it most this time of year.

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“In years past, we’ve collected the most toys in the region,”

Leigha Bolton, communications coordinator for the Academy, said.

“That’s because we get great support from our community. A lot of

schools pitch in. There’s nothing more wonderful than seeing a

child come in and help another child.”

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Since the inception of Toys for Tots, more than 400 million toys

have been distributed to more than 188 million needy children.

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Marine Corps Maj. William L. Hendricks founded the program in 1947,

when Hendricks and a group of Los Angeles Marine Reservists

collected and distributed 5,000 toys to needy children.

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“We were able to work out with the toys for tots program that all

toys we collect will stay in Mobile and Baldwin Counties,” Bolton

said. “With the economy the way it is there are a lot of children

who will not have a great Christmas.”

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The Academy is an independent, non-profit, accredited, special

mission university created to serve the nation and world with

programs in instruction, research and service.

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For more information about the Academy, call 251-626-3303 or visit

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"http://www.ussa.edu/">

"#000000">www.ussa.edu.

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