<P> The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) not - for - profit public charity located in Triangle, Virginia, serves to fund, raise funds for, and support the program . </P> <P> Toys for Tots began as a Los Angeles charitable effort in 1947 . Major Bill Hendricks, USMCR, was inspired by his wife Diane when she tried to donate a homemade Raggedy Ann doll to a needy child but couldn't find any organization to do so . At her suggestion, he gathered a group of local Marine reservists, including Lieutenant Colonel John Hampton, who coordinated and collected some 5,000 toys for local children that year from collection bins placed outside Warner Bros. movie theaters . Their efforts were so successful that, in 1948, Toys for Tots was launched as a national campaign . Hendricks used his position as director of Public Relations for Warner Brothers Studio to enlist celebrity support, as well as have Walt Disney Studios design the red toy train logo . A theme song for the program was written in 1956 by Sammy Fain and Paul Francis Webster, and would be recorded by Nat King Cole, among others . </P> <P> Until 1979, Marine reservists (frequently in their dress blue uniforms) and volunteers would collect and refurbish used toys . In 1980, only new toys were accepted, as reservists were no longer able to dedicate drill hours to refurbish toys, as well as legal concerns and the mixed message of giving hand - me - downs as a message of hope . </P> <P> In 1991, the Secretary of Defense authorized the creation and affiliation with the non-profit charity foundation . In 1995, the Secretary of Defense approved Toys for Tots as an official mission of the Marine Corps Reserve . </P>

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