December 29, 2009 (Utica, NY) —Upstate Cerebral Palsy recently benefited from the Toys for Tots program, offering gifts to agency children through generous donations and volunteer efforts.
Toys for Tots, a program funded and organized locally by the Herkimer County Detachment #227, Marine Corps League, offered holiday gifts for preschool-age children at the agency’s many sites including Chadwicks, Clinton, Armory, Corasanti, Barneveld, Kernan UPK, and children in the Promise Program. Therapists, teachers and aides from Upstate Cerebral Palsy selected and wrapped more than 260 presents for the children.
“The Toys for Tots program made it possible for our young children to receive gifts this year,” said William Mullin, director of early childhood family support services at Upstate Cerebral Palsy. “The program supported us in our efforts to make the lives of our children brighter this holiday season. The Toys for Tots representatives showed an interest in the children in our program, displaying compassion and generosity and embracing the spirit of giving.”
Toys for Tots is a non-profit public charity organized by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Through this program, new, unwrapped toys are collected during October, November and December and distributed as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community. This is the third year that Upstate Cerebral Palsy children have benefited from Toys for Tots.
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Upstate Cerebral Palsy is the premier provider of direct-care services and programs for individuals who are physically, developmentally, or mentally challenged and their families. Upstate Cerebral Palsy currently employs more than 1,900 full and part-time employees at 74 locations throughout central New York. As direct-care and education centers, these include medical, clinical and therapeutic personnel, teachers, social service staff, maintenance, clerical and general support staff.