FOUNDATIONS

CONTENTS:

• Create an Angel for the Victims of September 11
• Kids in Distressed Situations
• The Toy Industry Foundation (TIF)
• Marine Toys for Tots Foundation

With December comes Christmas and with Christmas 2001 comes a pervasive sadness that can be partially lifted by making good things happen for good people, especially the families impacted by the September 11, 2001, attacks. Instead of focusing on the never-ending pursuit of new grant sources and RFPs, I thought I'd share some of what I've uncovered while surfing the Internet, my favorite toy of all time.

CREATE AN ANGEL FOR THE VICTIMS OF SEPTEMBER 11

The Angel Project, based in Des Plaines, Illinois, is a nationwide project asking Americans to make an angel in memory of the victims of September 11. The Angel Project's goal is to collect 6,000 angels, at least one for every fallen victim. As of November 9th, 8,771 angels have been received. 324 hearts, 400 doves, 65 crosses, three flags, eight gift boxes, 28 stars, 10 stockings and one beautiful angel afghan have also been received. During Christmas week, all angels will be delivered to New York City for a special Angel Project memorial service. December 7, 2001 is the deadline to get your angels in for delivery to New York City.

http://www.theangelproject.com

KIDS IN DISTRESSED SITUATIONS

K.I.D.S., an industry-wide nonprofit organization founded in 1985, donates new children's apparel, shoes, toys and juvenile products to children in homeless, poverty and disaster situations in the U.S. and throughout the world. K.I.D.S. received the first part of a three-year grant from American Toy Institute in 1995.

http://www.kidsdonations.org/

THE TOY INDUSTRY FOUNDATION (TIF)

A not-for-profit corporation, TIF was established for the purpose of working to improve the quality of children's lives. TIF gives to organizations that support children who are blind or visually impaired, to homeless and poor children, to children with disabilities, and to children recovering from disasters throughout the world.

http://www.toy-tia.org/industry/ATI/index.html

MARINE TOYS FOR TOTS FOUNDATION

The Foundation's mission is to raise funds to provide toys to supplement the collections of local Toys for Tots coordinators; defray the costs of conducting annual Toys for Tots campaigns; provide administrative, advisory, financial, logistic and promotional support to local coordinators; provide other support that the U.S. Marine Corps, as a federal agency, cannot provide; and conduct public education and information programs which call the general public to action in support of Toys for Tots.

http://www.toysfortots.org/

Cathy Hampton