[ NEWS ]

On Friday December 7, 2012, BURKE will join the organizers of A Big Heart Foundation, Learning Express Toys, and K104.7 at the Learning Express Toy Store in the Stonecrest Shopping for the “A Big Heart Foundation Toys 4 Tots Shopping Event.” Proceeds from their Fifth Annual Toys for Tots Golf Tournament this past September will be used to purchase toys for local families benefiting from the Toys for Tots program.

“As the fifth anniversary of our annual Toys for Tots Golf Tournament, we thought this year’s shopping experience needed to be the largest and most impactful thus far,” said A Big Heart Foundation founder, Jack Burke. “With the help of our sponsor Learning Express, and K104.7, the Charlotte community is invited to join us on our annual toy shopping day and donate toys to the Toys for Tots program so local families can experience a heart-felt holiday.”

BURKE will join the organizers of the Fifth Annual Toys for Tots Golf Tournament at Learning Express in Stonecrest (7918 Rea Road Charlotte, NC 28277) on December 7th from 11:00am – 2:00pm. The Charlotte community is invited to come out and join the cause to donate toys to the Toys for Tots Program. The Toys for Tots Marines will be on site for toy collection, as well as the 104.7 on air personalities.

Last year, over four million toys were delivered across the U.S. to less fortunate children at Christmas through the USMC Toys for Tots program, totaling nearly $59 million worth of toys nationwide, $32,000 of which was donated by the Fourth Annual Toys for Tots Golf Tournament. However, the U.S. Marines anticipate the demand for toys to increase from last year due to a down economy and scarce job market.

“We served 50,000 children last year in Charlotte alone, at two toys per child, and we are expecting to serve even more families this holiday season,” says Charlotte’s Toys for Tots Event Coordinator, SSgt. Donnel Odom. “We have already collected over 2,500 toys thus far, with the first 200 of those coming from day of T4T Golf Tournament back in September. This year’s tournament proceeds from the Fifth Annual Toys for Tots Tournament will be a huge contribution to ensuring local families have a Christmas, but we still have a long way to go.”

The Fifth Annual T4T Golf  Tournament was held at Cedarwood Country Club in South Charlotte on September 24, 2012, where 150 business leaders and community members gathered to support the Toys for Tots mission. To date, the T4T Golf Tournament has raised over $70,000 worth of toys to the Toys for Tots program. This year’s tournament proceeds are expected to bring that total to over $100,000.

To find out more information on how you or your organization can help the Toys for Tots cause, please visit www.toysfortotsgolf.org.