Toys for Tots Teams Up with Betty Crocker® to Encourage Americans to Host Parties to Make a Merry Difference

TRIANGLE, Va., Nov. 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- This year, the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation has partnered with Betty Crocker® to encourage holiday party hosts and goers to give back, bake and make a merry difference.  To kick off the celebration, Betty Crocker has donated $50,000 to Toys for Tots to help deliver more than 3,500 toys to families in need.

Now through December 27, individuals can register to host their Toys for Tots Cookie Exchange at www.toysfortots.org/cookie.   In return, the first 1,000 hosts who sign up will receive a special cookie-making kit from Betty Crocker, including a copy of Betty Crocker The Big Book of Cookies with over 180 easy-to-make recipes and a Toys for Tots train-shaped cookie cutter. Evite® partnered with Toys for Tots and Betty Crocker to create a custom invitation for cookie exchange hosts to easily spread the word to their guests.

The not-so-jolly reality is that more than 16 million American children currently live in poverty and may not receive toys this holiday season. With a goal of 1,000 or more cookie exchange parties hosted, Toys for Tots, Betty Crocker and Evite are encouraging Americans to help other families make merry memories this holiday season.

"Betty Crocker and Toys for Tots are synonymous with the Christmas holidays," Lt. Gen. Pete Osman, USMC (Ret), President and CEO of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation.  "We are excited to host the first annual Toys for Tots Cookie Exchange to help turn holiday parties – something in which we all partake – into an opportunity to share the magic of Christmas with deserving children.  Thanks to our new friends at Betty Crocker, everyone can help deliver memories of hope and happiness to children who need it most by collecting toys and donations at their cookie exchanges."

"We're honored to partner with Toys for Tots this holiday season to help fulfill their important mission," said Laura Forero, marketing manager with Betty Crocker. "It's our hope that by hosting cookie exchanges to gather donations some added cheer will be brought to thousands of deserving children this holiday season."

It's easy to host a Toys for Tots Cookie Exchange:

1. Sign Up. The first 1,000 hosts who register will receive the exclusive cookie-making kit from Betty Crocker.
2. Invite Your Guests.  After you sign up, hosts will have access to free custom Evite invitations that they can personalize and send to their guests.
3. Make a Merry Difference.  Each friend and family member are encouraged to bring cookies to share as well as a toy or cash donation to Toys for Tots. Choose to donate online or collect cash and checks at the party.  Find a Toys for Tots drop-off location here for the toys you collect.
4. Be Creative.  Get cookie recipe ideas from Betty Crocker, as well as cute ways to easily decorate your party!
5. Share your holiday cookie creations and donation success on social media using #MakeMerry and #TFT CookieExchange hashtags.

About Marine Toys for Tots Foundation
The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is a not for profit organization authorized by the U.S. Marine Corps to provide fundraising and other necessary support for the annual Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program. Toys for Tots provides joy and a message of hope to less fortunate children through the gift of a new toy or book during the Christmas holiday season.  Our gifts offer these children hope, recognition, and a positive memory they will cherish for a lifetime. Many of the books, games, and sports equipment that we provide as gifts make contribute to the educational, social and physical development of these children.   In 2012, Marines distributed toys to more than 7 million children who might not have otherwise experienced the magic of the Christmas holiday season.

About Betty Crocker
Since her creation in 1921, Betty Crocker has enjoyed a distinguished history as a multimedia superstar. Featured in radio, TV, print, and now online, this cultural icon has rightfully earned her reputation as the "Original First Lady of Food." Minneapolis is the home of the Betty Crocker Kitchens, where a team of culinary experts develop food ideas that combine trends with consumer needs. 

BettyCrocker.com is one of the top websites in the food category. Betty Crocker's Facebook community has over 1.75 million fans that enjoy interacting with the brand, and millions have downloaded Betty Crocker's mobile app. Betty Crocker branded products garner more than $1 billion in sales annually. For more information, visit www.BettyCrocker.com.

About Evite
With over 32 million registered users, Evite (www.evite.com) is the leading digital invitation and social event planning brand. Evite's free, easy-to-use invitation designs kick off more than 7 million parties and gatherings every year. With 28,000 invitations sent every hour, and party-planning tools that handle hundreds of millions of RSVPs annually, Evite is responsible for more celebrations than any other online brand. Launched in 1998, Evite is headquartered in Los Angeles and is a wholly-owned operating business of Liberty Interactive Corporation (NASDAQ: LINTA, LINTB).

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CONTACT:
Misti Dragano
Toys for Tots
410-263-5312
[email protected]

SOURCE The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation