DAPHNE, Ala. — The United States Sports Academy and the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Foundation are teaming up for the 15th year to help underprivileged children enjoy Christmas.

Residents may bring donations to the academy each Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Toys should be delivered to the Christmas tree in the main lobby of the academy at One Academy Drive in Daphne.

The Toys for Tots program was founded in 1947 by Marine Corps Maj. William L. Hendricks, when Hendricks and a group of Marine Reservists in Los Angeles first collected and distributed 5,000 toys to needy children.

The academy encourages schools, clubs, associations and businesses in the area to drop off new, unwrapped toys. All toys dropped off at the academy will be distributed to children in Baldwin County.

More than 400 million toys have been distributed to 188 million needy children since the inception of the Toys for Tots program.