Toys"R"Us® Kicks Off Its Annual In-Store And Online Fundraising Campaign Benefitting The Marine Toys For Tots Foundation

WAYNE, N.J., Oct. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The faint sound of jingle bells approaching can only mean one thing – Toys"R"Us^® has officially launched its annual nationwide fundraising campaign to benefit the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. As the organization's largest retail partner, customers can help spread holiday joy to some of the 15.5 million U.S. children living in poverty, and who may not find a present under the Christmas tree this year, by donating new, unwrapped toys at any Toys"R"Us or Babies"R"Us^® store across the country and online at Toysrus.com/ToysforTots now through Wednesday, December 7. The company will also collect monetary donations in-store and online through Christmas Eve.

Click to Tweet: Help @Shaq spread that #GivingIsAwesome feeling. Donate to @ToysforTots_USA at @Toysrus now! www.Toysrus.com/ToysforTots

This holiday season and beyond, Toys"R"Us is encouraging customers to share their own #GivingIsAwesome moments – whether through donating to Toys for Tots or a heartwarming way they give back in their own communities – on social media using the dedicated hashtag, which serves as the company's overarching theme for all of its charitable giving programs. Helping spread that #GivingIsAwesome feeling, Toys"R"Us rang in the holiday giving season this September with a massive donation to the charity –  more than $1 million of the hottest Shopkins toys. The company will also donate $1 (up to $100,000) to Toys for Tots for every new Wish List created between Thursday, October 27 and Saturday, November 19.

"It is heartbreaking to know that millions of children may wake up on Christmas morning only to find an absence of gifts beneath the tree. At Toys"R"Us, we are committed to preserving the joy of the holidays – and to a child, the gift of play is simply magical," said Amy von Walter, Chairman, Toys"R"Us Children's Fund. "This is why our partnership with the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation has been the cornerstone of our holiday giving for more than a decade. With the help of Shaq-A-Claus, our team members and customers, we are doing all we can to ensure more kids in need experience that quintessential moment of childhood joy this holiday season."

Shaq-A-Claus will soon dash through the snow to make Christmas wishes come true. NBA Legend, philanthropist and entrepreneur Shaquille O'Neal is re-enlisting as his holly jolly alter-ego to encourage shoppers to donate to the charity. Also making a comeback is The Great Big Shaq-A-Claus Wish List – items purchased from this list will be sent directly to Toys for Tots, helping deliver the magic of a toy to kids in need across the country.

"One act of kindness can be an inspiration to a kid – it was for me when I received the gift of a basketball on Christmas morning," said Shaquille O'Neal. "That's why I'm once again suiting up as Shaq-A-Claus and calling on my little elves across the country to help me and Toys"R"Us deliver the awesome magic of a toy to kids in need this Christmas by donating to Toys for Tots."

As the largest retail partner in the history of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, Toys"R"Us has raised nearly $50 million and collected more than 4 million toys since the partnership began in 2004. The Shaq-A-Claus program is also supported by the Toys"R"Us Children's Fund. 

"For 13 years, Toys"R"Us has been essential to helping Toys for Tots deliver holiday happiness to the millions of U.S. children living in poverty," said LtGen Pete Osman, USMC (Ret), President and CEO, Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. "With their generous spirit and dedication to giving, we are confident that millions of children that might have gone without will find a present under the Christmas tree this year."

To download additional images and a video of this year's campaign, please visit: https://toysrus.sharefile.com/d-s867ac2cc14b422b9 

Charitable Giving at Toys"R"Us
The philanthropic mission of Toys"R"Us, Inc. and the Toys"R"Us Children's Fund is to keep children safe and help them in times of need. The Toys"R"Us Children's Fund contributes millions of dollars annually to various children's organizations, including those providing disaster relief to victims of large-scale crises, as well as those supporting America's military families. The Fund also provides grants to leading special needs organizations, furthering the company's commitment to children of all abilities. In addition to financial and product donations, Toys"R"Us, Inc. hosts in-store and online fundraising campaigns annually that raise millions of dollars for the company's signature philanthropic partners.

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SOURCE Toys"R"Us