Get Ready for the Ultimate Hollywood Christmas Parade Extravaganza, Premiering on the CW Network on December 15th
The 91st Anniversary of the Hollywood Christmas Parade Supporting Marine Toys for Tots was presented by Associated Television International in association with The City of Los Angeles in Hollywood, CA on Sunday, November 26, 2023.
Led by Grand Marshal Colonel Paris D. Davis, Retired, recent recipient of the Medal of Honor, our nation’s highest military honor, and hosted by Erik Estrada, Laura McKenzie, Dean Cain, and Montel Williams, with Special Co-Host Elizabeth Stanton, Host of Season Three of The CW’s hit television show, World’s Funniest Animals. The parade was taped and will be aired on The CW Network on Friday, December 15, 2023, at 8:00 p.m. EST/PST.
How It All Began 76 Years Ago – The Origin and Evolution of the Marine Toys for Tots Program:
Toys for Tots began in 1947 as the brainchild of Marine Corps Reserve Major Bill Hendricks. It was his wife, Diane Hendricks, who was the real inspiration. She had a few handcrafted dolls and asked Bill to deliver them to an agency that supports children in need. When Bill reported back to his wife that he could not find such an organization, she instructed him to “start one!” Major Hendricks and the Marines in his reserve unit in Los Angeles collected and distributed 5,000 toys in 1947. Seeing such successful community engagement in 1947, the Commandant directed all Marine Reserve Sites to implement a Toys for Tots campaign, transforming it into a national community action program in 1948.
Bill Hendrick’s civilian job was Director of Public Relations at Warner Brothers Studios. He had many celebrity friends whom he asked to help support the newly created Marine Toys for Tots Program. As a personal friend and as a favor to Bill Hendricks, Walt Disney designed the first Toys for Tots poster, which included a miniature three-car train that was subsequently adopted as the Toys for Tots logo. The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charity, was established in 1991 at the behest of the Marine Corps to help run and support the Marine Toys for Tots Program.
The Foundation raises funds, purchases toys, provides promotional and support materials, manages all funds raised and donated, solicits corporate support, educates the public, and handles day-to-day operations. Presently, the Marine Toys for Tots Program distributes an average of 18 million toys to 7 million less fortunate children annually. To learn more, please visit: https://toyfortots.org
