Toys for Tots started in 1947. It was created by Major Bill Hendricks and his wife Diane. She had a few handcrafted dolls and asked Bill if he could deliver them to an agency to support children in need. When Bill Hendricks went to find an agency he came back with bad news. Hendricks explained that there was no agency for him to donate the dolls to. In response, Diane told him “make one”. Major Hendricks and the Marines helped reserve a unit. Hendricks collected over 5,000 toys and distributed the toys to kids in need around Los Angeles. Seeing such success, the community made an agreement to advertise the Toy for Tots and expanded it throughout the nation. In the late 1980’s, the marines corp came to the decision that non profit donations were necessary to keep Toys for Tots alive for that year. The Toys for Tots foundation was founded 1991 to provide fundraising services and support for children from the ages 1-12 years old.  

In 1984, Marines collected and distributed over 6,800,000 and brought the hope and joy of Christmas to 3,400,000 unprivileged children. In 1999, the funds for Toys for Tots set the new record of how much donations it had gotten. Also in 1999, the marines got authorized to campaign the program all around the world. Even after the terrorist attack in 2001, Toys for Tots still managed to collect over 2000 toys for the kids. That set their world second best record. There are 388 local organizations and 350 communities nationwide. Walt Disney actually created the logo for Project. After one year Toys for Tots got their own theme song or a little commercial song.  In 1991, the organization was established into a real company. Also in 1992, everyone in the organization, signed an agreement with the Marines and the Marines toys company. 

Although 2022 was the year Toys for Tots set a new world record on how much toys and money got donated, this year is a little different. Every year the number of donations gets lower and lower. Nobody is donating toys for this program.  People gave up on trying to help the unprivileged kids. This needs to change because Toys for Tots is an important and well known organization that donates to those in need, a necessary organization. They hope to be able to continue through the years.