RESOLUTION NO. 220647

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Honoring the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program for providing a tangible sign of hope to economically disadvantaged children at Christmas for the past 72 years.

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WHEREAS, in 1948, the Marine Corps adopted and expanded the program of collecting and distributing toys to needy children begun by Bill Hendricks and his Los Angeles Marine Corps Reserve unit the year prior; and

WHEREAS, annually the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program distributes nearly 17,000,000 toys to bring the joy of Christmas to approximately 7,000,000 less fortunate children and their families every year; and

WHEREAS, to date the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program has provided 556 million toys to 258 million children in over 800 communities nationwide; and

WHEREAS, the collection and distribution effort operated annually with intentional coordination between Marine Corps Reserve National Foundation, the Combat Logistics Regiment 4th Marine, the Marine Corps League Simpson-Hoggatt Detachment (984) of Kansas City, Missouri, and the General Larry Oppenheimer Detachment 1025 Marine Corps League; and

WHEREAS, in the Greater Kansas City, Missouri area the Toys for Tots Coordinator, Staff Sargent Warren Ory leads the local impact, which distributed 54,206 toys and supported 33,030 Children in 2021; and

WHEREAS, local business leaders, non-profit organizations and volunteers play a key role by allowing Marines to locate collection receptacles in their store, providing free warehouse space to store and sort toys each fall, providing vehicles to collect toys from collection site, sponsoring toy raising events, and by helping the Marines with attaining media exposure for the Toys for Tots effort; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:

That the Mayor and Council hereby express gratitude to the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program for their positive ...

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