Marines kick off Toys for Tots campaign with golf tournament Published Nov. 5, 2007 By Senior Airman Julius Delos Reyes 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Toys for Tots, the Marine Corps Reserve fundraiser, kicked off here with the 7th Annual Golf Tournament at Muroc Lake Golf Course on Oct. 26. The fundraiser is hosted by the Marines Aircraft Group 46 Detachment Bravo here. "The event went very smoothly," said Marine Staff Sgt. Quinton Taylor, Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 769 helicopter mechanic and Toys for Tots coordinator. "It went out very nice with a very good turnout." The event raised more than $200 and collected about 65 toys, Sergeant Taylor said. About 65 active-duty military and civilians participated in the event. Awards were given to the top three teams and the team with the worst score. Edwards Marines have hosted golf tournaments since 2000 to start the Toys for Tots campaign. The main focus of the event was the toys the participants donated for the cause, Sergeant Taylor said. People can donate new and unwrapped toys to the Toys for Tots organization. The toys that Toys for Tots receives are donated to cities in the local area such as Rosamond, Lancaster, Palmdale and Ventura. The Marine Corps Reserves Toys for Tots started when Marine Maj. Bill Hendricks and his Los Angeles Marine Corps Reserve unit collected and distributed toys to needy children in 1947. In 1948, the Marine Corps adopted the program and expanded it nationwide. "The Toys for Tots is a very good program," Sergeant Taylor said. "It is a tradition that is near to the Marines' heart." For more information on donating toys or providing support, call Sergeant Taylor at 275-3440 or visit the Toys for Tots Web site at www.toysfortots.org.