TOTO, the world’s largest plumbing manufacturer with more than $5.1 billion in annual sales, announced today it collected 986 new unwrapped gifts at its New York Gallery to support the Marines’ annual Toys for Tots campaign and bring a smile to the faces of children in need throughout the greater New York City area.
To encourage donations, TOTO provided New Yorkers a ticket in its raffle for every toy they brought in. As prizes, TOTO offered its NEOREST 750H Intelligent Toilet (MSRP $10,200), Vespin 1G Connect+ Toilet and Washlet S305e (MSRP $2,257), Washlet S350e (MSRP $1,560), an iPad Pro, and dinners for two at three upscale New York City restaurants. “Improving people’s lives is what inspires every TOTO innovation,” said Kevin Burns, Senior Director, Northeast Sales Region. “We are very fortunate to have the opportunity to partner with the Marine Corps to improve this holiday season of New York City’s less fortunate girls and boys, who otherwise might not receive a gift.” On December 13th, TOTO held a Holiday Appreciation Party for customers, architects, and designers.
At this event, TOTO was honored to host Staff Sergeant Elizabeth Harris and Gunnery Sergeant Grant Myrick. Sergeants Harris and Myrick served as goodwill ambassadors for Toys for Tots, the largest outreach program in the Department of Defense. The two Marines were warmly welcomed by everyone. At the evening’s end, Sergeants Harris and Myrick took the gifts to the Marine Corps’ distribution center where their fellow Marines counted and sorted them by age and gender.
“Our mission is to deliver a shiny new toy at Christmas to as many of New York City’s disadvantaged kids as we possibly can,” said Gunnery Sergeant Grant Myrick, New York City Coordinator for Toys for Tots. “By doing so, we send a message of hope to these boys and girls, motivating them to grow into responsible, productive, patriotic citizens and community leaders. We greatly appreciate the generosity of TOTO and the hundreds of New Yorkers who donated toys at the TOTO Gallery this year.” Begun in 1947 by reservist Major William L. Hendricks, the Marine Toys for Tots program has collected and distributed toys to children in need for 70 years and has drop-off locations in communities large and small all over the U.S. Since it began, the Marine Toys for Tots Program has distributed over 512 million toys to more than 237 million less fortunate children.
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