Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Toys for Tots is truly an unbelievable organization. To date, the program has collected and distributed more than 512 million toys!
The original Toys for Tots poster designed by Walt Disney.
Toys for Tots started with Diane Hendricks, wife of a Marine Major. In 1947, she handmade a doll and asked her husband to deliver it to an organization that could pair it with a child at Christmas. Upon discovering that no such organization existed, she suggested that Major Hendricks establish one—he did just that!
Hendricks, who in civilian life was Warner Brothers’ Director of Public Relations, launched a campaign and collected nearly 5,000 toys for Los Angeles children in need. This campaign was so successful that, it expanded nationwide.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! is proud to be a Toys for Tots donation drop-off yet again, but this year we’ve decked the halls and really tree-topped ourselves!
In the shape of a Christmas tree, Ripley’s will be donating a variety of books by Ripley Publishing to Toys for Tots, a $100,000 value. Featured on Ripley’s book tree is Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Shatter Your Senses!, the newest book in the bestselling series from Ripley Publishing. Filled with remarkable photos and over 1,500 all new—all true—stories to immerse yourself in, it is so incredible you won’t believe your eyes…or ears…or nose!
Ripley’s will proudly present this donation to Toys for Tots at the Hollywood Christmas Parade on November 26th. Not in Hollyweird for the holidays? You can watch the parade at home!
The 86th Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade will broadcast its national two-hour special premier Friday, December 15th at 8:00 p.m. ET. You can also catch it throughout the holiday season on the Hallmark Channel and American Forces Network.
You can donate a new toy to Toys for Tots at the following Ripley’s locations:
Not near one of our participating Odditoriums? To find a toy drop-off in your area, click here.
In the spirit of giving this holiday season, let Ripley’s pay for Christmas. Enter to win $2,500!
Fill out below for your chance to win $2,500!
Terms and Conditions
Thank you to all the Marines, veterans and volunteers who donate their time and effort to Toys for Tots each year! Toys for Tots has no affiliation with the above sweepstakes.
