What do dt, the Marines and Disney have in common?

In my excitement for tonight’s Toys for Tots party that we are co-sponsoring at Jade Theater, San Diego’s newest restaurant/bar, I was inspired to discover just how the Toys for Tots tradition came to be.

First let me say, on behalf of everyone at digital-telepathy, we are very excited to have been a part of the planning of this annual event organized by our friend, Brian Yui.

Brian has been throwing Toys for Tots parties in San Diego for years and has been the source of joy for countless children who have received toys over the years; so thank you Brian!

This year we are grateful to have the opportunity to join in and do our part to give back. Our community of friends, clients and family must also be pretty excited because we’ve had over 700 people RSVP already! Due to such a high response, we have closed the list. Walk ups are welcome, but people on the list will be given priority. The doors open at 8. Don’t forget to bring toys!

Now back to the opening question that you must be curios about! dt, the Marines and Disney? An unlikely combo! So what do we have in common? A commitment to Toys for Tots!

History of Toys for Tots

Toys for Tots began in 1947, when Major William L. (Bill) Hendricks, USMCR and a handful of Marine Reservists in Los Angeles collected and distributed 5,000 toys to needy children on Christmas eve. The idea came from Bill’s wife. During the fall of 1947, Diane Hendricks handcrafted a Raggedy Ann doll and asked Bill to deliver the doll to an organization that would give it to a needy child at Christmas. When Bill determined that no organization existed, Diane told him he should start one. He did. As a result, Toys for Tots was born.” (link to more details…)

Each year the concept got bigger and bigger. Plus as Marine Reservist on weekends and Public Relations Director for Warner Brothers Studios, Bill Hendricks, was able to generate considerable visibility and to gain important celebrity support for Toys for Tots. One such important support was Walt Disney who in 1948 designed the Toys for Tots logo that is still being used today.

Hence, dt, the Marines and Disney are related. See Kevin Bacon was right, six degrees of separation! I’ll buy a drink tonight for the first person who posts what Kevin Bacon, dt, the Marines and Disney have in common!

Cheers!