Football Fans Can Cheer Teams to Victory While Delivering Holiday Cheer to Children in Need

QUANTICO, Va., Nov. 17, 2010 -- This holiday season, several NFL teams will join forces with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve to launch Touchdown for Tots, a national toy drive benefiting the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. Now through December 24, football fans across the country can spread the joy of the holidays while cheering on their favorite team, either at the stadium or when watching the game at home.

For over 60 years the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation has delivered a message of hope to less fortunate children through the gift of a new toy at Christmas. Last year, Marines distributed 16.3 million toys to more than 7.4 million children, who without the help of Toys for Tots, might have faced Christmas morning without a toy under the tree.

With the U.S. unemployment rates at 9.6%, and even higher in many hard-hit cities, Toys for Tots encourages all football fans to help score one for local kids in need, by supporting Touchdown for Tots.

Fans can support Touchdown for Tots in several ways throughout the holiday season:

Donate a Toy at Game Day Toy Drives

Between November 28 and December 19, select NFL teams across the country will host toy drives during one of their respective home games. Fans are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy to the stadium on game day, where local Marines will be collecting the toys to distribute to children in the communities where they are donated.

Touchdown for Tots Game Day toy drives will be held at the following games:

• Atlanta, GA Atlanta Falcons vs Green Bay Packers, November 28th at 1:00 EST
• Cleveland, OH Cleveland Browns vs Carolina Panthers, November 28th at 1:00 EST
• Philadelphia, PA Philadelphia Eagles vs Houston Texans, December 2nd at 8:20 EST
• Nashville, TN Tennessee Titans vs Jacksonville Jaguars, December 5th at 12:00 CST
• Miami, FL Miami Dolphins vs Cleveland Browns, December 5th at 1:00 EST
• Washington, DC Washington Redskins vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers, December 12th at 1:00 EST
• Charlotte, NC Carolina Panthers vs Atlanta Falcons, December 12th at 1:00 EST
• New Orleans, LA New Orleans Saints vs St Louis Rams, December 12th at 3:05 CST
• East Rutherford, NJ New York Jets vs Miami Dolphins, December 12th at 4:15 EST
• St Louis, MO St Louis Rams vs Kansas City Chiefs, December 19th at 12:00 CST

No matter where you live or which team you root for, football fans can score one for the kids when you text TD to 50555 to make a $5 donation to Toys for Tots. Every $5 donated now through December 24 will help put a new toy in the hands of a deserving child.

Donate Online

When you're online checking the latest scores or selecting this week's players for your fantasy football team, visit www.toysfortots.org/touchdown to make a donation now through December 24.

Your Favorite NFL Players are Going Shopping

In Atlanta, Cincinnati and Detroit, William Moore, Thomas DeCoud, Leon Hall, Cedric Benson, Brandon Pettigrew and Jerome Felton will join other team-mates at their local Toys"R"Us stores this holiday season to shop for toys for children in need in the local community. Marines will also be on hand to collect toys. Fans are encouraged to stop by their local store now through December 5 to drop off toys in the Toys for Tots collection bins. All toys donated at Toys"R"Us stores will stay in the community where they are donated. Cash donations will be accepted at all Toys"R"Us registers through December 24.

"For years many NFL teams around the country have supported their local Toys for Tots campaign, delivering the magic of the holidays to children in their community," said Lt. General Pete Osman, USMC (Ret), President and CEO, Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. "With even more children living in poverty today, we are thrilled to have a national focus on our effort to help children across the country receive a gift to unwrap on Christmas morning. We hope the fans of these great teams will support Touchdown for Tots and help deliver more toys than ever before to those children who need it most."

About The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys For Tots Program

The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is a not for profit organization authorized by the U.S. Marine Corps and the Department of Defense to provide fundraising and other necessary support for the annual Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program. Now in its 63rd year, Toys for Tots provides joy and a message of hope to less fortunate children through the gift of a new toy or book during the Christmas holiday season. Our gifts offer these children hope, recognition and a positive memory they will cherish for a lifetime. Many of the gifts we provide, such as books, games and sports equipment, make a significant contribution to the educational, social and recreational development of these children. In 2009, Marines distributed gifts to 7.4 million children in 691 communities nationwide. The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation relies on individual donations from the American public as well as support from corporate sponsors. For more information, visit www.toysfortots.org.

* $5 will be added to your mobile phone bill/ deducted from your prepaid account. Message and Data Rates May Apply. Reply STOP to 50555 to stop. Full Terms: mGive.org/T.